Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Eugene

(61,928 posts)
Fri Aug 18, 2017, 02:04 PM Aug 2017

Roadblocks, weapons bans as Boston braces for 'Free Speech' rally

Source: Reuters

#U.S. AUGUST 18, 2017 / 11:37 AM / AN HOUR AGO

Roadblocks, weapons bans as Boston braces for 'Free Speech' rally

Scott Malone
3 MIN READ

BOSTON (Reuters) - Boston officials are planning road blockades and even banning food vendors from the historic Boston Common as they step up security around a "Free Speech" rally on Saturday featuring right-wing speakers, aiming to avoid a repeat of last weekend's violence at a white supremacist rally in Virginia.

Some 500 police officers will be on the streets around the popular tourist destination. They are planning to close some roadways to vehicles, mindful of the car attacks that killed a woman in Charlottesville and 13 in an attack in Barcelona on Thursday.

"We all know the tragedy that happened in Barcelona. That only makes us more vigilant," said Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, who was the department's second-in-command during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.

Saturday's rally has drawn intense concern from city and state officials following the violence in Charlottesville, when white supremacists at a "Unite the Right" rally fought in the streets with anti-racism protesters. A woman was killed at that event when a man said to have neo-Nazi sympathies crashed his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, injuring another 19 people.

-snip-


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-protests-boston-idUSKCN1AY1RX
4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Roadblocks, weapons bans as Boston braces for 'Free Speech' rally (Original Post) Eugene Aug 2017 OP
Boston Strong sheshe2 Aug 2017 #1
Awesome! Phoenix61 Aug 2017 #2
Boston has its own long history of Racial and Ethnic strife maxsolomon Aug 2017 #3
This picture from 1976 shamed the city Warpy Aug 2017 #4

Phoenix61

(17,009 posts)
2. Awesome!
Fri Aug 18, 2017, 02:16 PM
Aug 2017

Glad they are taking this serious. If you can't take backpacks, large purses, drinks, full-size umbrellas etc into sporting event venues, they shouldn't have a problem with them not being allowed in for this. I mean, it's a rally to discuss free speech, right?

maxsolomon

(33,347 posts)
3. Boston has its own long history of Racial and Ethnic strife
Fri Aug 18, 2017, 02:34 PM
Aug 2017

But I'd bet they'll come together to reject White Supremacists.

Warpy

(111,305 posts)
4. This picture from 1976 shamed the city
Fri Aug 18, 2017, 03:10 PM
Aug 2017


along with video of punks throwing rocks at school buses full of little kids on the nightly news. A few bad politicians rode the wave of Southie hate into office but they didn't last long, and a few long time conservative pols who tried to gain greater power were defeated within a couple of years.

It lasted as long as it did in 1976 because it was mostly home grown. The hate rally this weekend will feature outsiders and Boston can get pretty clannish about that. The cops know it will be a Donnybrook. They're just trying to prevent people from being maimed or killed. Good luck to them and the Red Sox.
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Roadblocks, weapons bans ...