Photos & Video: Dueling protests roil downtown Boston
At least three different issues were being protested as crowds took to the streets of Boston Saturday.
Protests over the killing of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis continued in dozens of U.S. cities Saturday, and Boston was no exception: After demonstrations here on Friday night resulted in 10 arrests and injuries to four officers, crowds of protesters came out again on Saturday afternoon and evening in downtown Boston.
Adding to the unrest was a State House protest by the group “Super Happy Fun America,” best known for sponsoring last August’s “Straight Pride Parade.” This time they were calling for Gov. Charlie Baker to repeal all government restrictions related to concern about the spread of COVID-19 and reopen the state immediately, an effort that drew a sizable counter-protest from demonstrators concerned about the spread of the deadly virus and its disproportionate impact on people of color.
Later in the evening, the police brutality protests drew more contentious, as captured by protesters on cell phone video and posted to Twitter. Meanwhile, “Justice for George,” a “socially distanced” protest to “demand justice for George [Floyd] and support the Black Lives Matter movement” is planned for 3 p.m. Sunday at Government Center.
Below, see images and video from the dueling protests.
A counter-demonstrator protests during a rally at the State House sponsored by the group calling itself “Super Happy Fun America,” demanding that Gov. Charlie Baker reopen the state.
A protester near the State House waves to traffic during a “Super Happy Fun America” rally calling to reopen Massachusetts.
Protesters and counter-protesters exchange opinions during a “Super Happy Fun America” rally calling to reopen Massachusetts.
A counter-protester holds a sign across the street from a demonstration calling for repeal of all government restrictions related to concern about the spread of COVID-19 Saturday in Boston.
Police stand between counter-protesters and a demonstration calling for the lifting of all government restrictions relating to concern about the spread of COVID-19 Saturday.
Police stand between counter-protesters and a demonstration calling for the lifting of all government restrictions relating to concern about the spread of COVID-19 Saturday.
Makeshift body bags lie on the street, placed by counter-protesters to a demonstration calling for the lifting of all government restrictions relating to concern about the spread of COVID-19.
A Trump supporter stands next to a woman protesting against the death in police custody of George Floyd Saturday in Boston.
A counter-protester holds a sign across the street from a demonstration calling for the lifting of all government restrictions related to concern about the spread of COVID-19.
Protesters took a knee as another group, which was calling for the repeal of all government restrictions related to concern about the spread of COVID-19, sang the National Anthem across the street at the State House Saturday.
A counter-demonstrator holds up makeshift body bags while separated by police from a protest calling for the repeal of all COVID-19 restrictions Saturday.
Vanessa Norris writes a message on a car window as she prepares for a protest to demand rent cancellations for people who lose their jobs due to COVID-19 restrictions on business Saturday in Boston.
Protesters took a knee as another group that was calling for the repeal of all government restrictions related to concern about the spread of COVID-19 sang the national anthem across the street at the State House.
A counter-demonstrator holds a sign across the street from a protest calling for the repeal of all government restrictions related to COVID-19 Saturday.
Protesters in Boston took a knee Saturday while speaking out about the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and counter-protesting a group seeking the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.
Doctor Nesli Basgoz joined counter-protesters across the street from a “Super Happy Fun America” rally calling to reopen Massachusetts at the State House Saturday. Basgoz, an infectious disease doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital and a member of Physicians for Policy Action (PPA), said, “Racism is a health issue, the virus is a health issue, they’re not political issues.”
Donna Harkness of Lynn joined protesters at a rally calling to reopen Massachusetts at the State House in Boston Saturday.
Christina Vierra joined protesters at a State House rally calling to reopen Massachusetts Saturday.
#BostonProtest #GeorgeFloydProtests
A correct way to protest! Not sure if it finished strong, hope so 🙏. pic.twitter.com/B00QEQo8PW— Hector Galarza🌴 (@GalarzaHector71) May 31, 2020
https://twitter.com/kevintobin31/status/1266940143358836737
The #bostonprotest today. We will march until we see change! #BlacklivesMaters #BlackLiveMatter #JusticeForGeorgeFlyod pic.twitter.com/9GIYYvc6p3
— Lisa Marie (@lisamw11) May 30, 2020
We need justice for all the cases that ended innocent lives ✊🏽#BlackLivesMatter #bostonprotest pic.twitter.com/e6iaL26qnZ
— cat (@Unexpected_Cat) May 30, 2020
https://twitter.com/beantowncarleen/status/1266886443634503687
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