Police received a call at 12:30 a.m. that about 100 people were protesting, walking down Congress Street toward the Old Statehouse and City Hall Square, BPD Officer Kim Tavares told CNN. No arrests have been made, nor is their route known, Tavares said. The group eventually boarded a train and left the scene, the officer added.
Social media video posted online showed dozens of people clutching shields and at least two different flags, including Patriotic Front flags and upside-down US flags. Last month, a group believed to be affiliated with the Patriotic Front was arrested after authorities said they planned to riot at a Pride event in Idaho. In a letter posted on Facebook, City Councilman Ed Flynn lamented the constant presence of the Patriotic Front at events in Boston over the past year.
“It is utterly repulsive to once again read reports and watch videos on social media of dozens of neo-Nazis making yet another brazen public display of their hateful ideology,” Flynn said. “While all people of good will and decency are both angered and extremely disturbed by the increased activity we continue to witness from neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups at the local level, we can no longer say that We’re surprised by what we continue to see across the country, unfortunately.”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu echoed that sentiment, writing on Twitter that “the disgusting hatred of white supremacists has no place here,” especially “when so many of our rights are under attack, we will not normalize intimidation by bigots.”
“As we commemorate Boston’s legacy as the cradle of freedom, we celebrate the ongoing struggle to expand those freedoms for all,” the mayor added.
Robert Trestan, the director of the Anti-Defamation League of New England, said on Twitter that “The Patriot Front marching on Freedom Road on the July 4th holiday weekend is an insult to all who fought for freedom, equality, justice.” .
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