Local News
Nine counter-protesters were arrested near Kenmore Square on Saturday after they intercepted a men's anti-abortion demonstration marching from Boston's only Planned Parenthood clinic to Boston Common.
The National Men's March to Abolish Abortion and Rally for Personhood began its permitted demonstration at 11 a.m. Saturday in front of Planned Parenthood on Commonwealth Avenue. The group then marched greater than three miles to the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common to take part in a rally.
At Kenmore Square, Boston police reported that several hundred counter-protesters blocked the lads's path, some dressed as clowns.
“As the group came together, each group was yelling/yelling at each other,” a police report states. The counter-protesters “directed their anger at the officers by threatening them, shouting fighting words and attempting to incite them.”
The group was ordered to avoid the anti-abortion protesters but refused. Boston police then attempted to physically move the gang, the report said. In social media posts from reporterPolice officers in riot gear with batons might be seen taking motion against demonstrators.
Officers arrested nine individuals who “refused to peacefully disperse, were extremely riotous and stormy in their gathering, and their behavior resulted in such dangerous and offensive conditions for citizens, those peacefully assembling and law enforcement officers alike,” police said .
They were each charged with disorderly conduct and disrupting a public assembly and can appear in local courts on Monday.
The Men's March protests “propaganda of evil” during Mass. that protects abortion
The men's march reached the Common, where Jim Havens, one among the march's co-founders, gave a non secular speech within the bandstand. Protesters had signs that read “Babies were killed here” and “Parenthood now.”
“This is actually one of the reasons we are having this public march and rally, so we can help those who are indoctrinated by the propaganda of evil,” Havens said said. “We can help them get out of their ideological bubble and see real people who stand on the side of the truly good and beautiful and stand against the ongoing, daily mass murder of our littlest brothers and sisters.”
When President-elect Donald Trump ran against Vice President Kamala Harris, he said he wouldn’t support a federal abortion ban and would go away it as much as the states. But with Republicans controlling Congress, abortion rights advocates are concerned about recent restrictions on abortion. Gov. Maura Healey said the state will keep its supply of abortion pills.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said at a separate event Saturday that the town was preparing for any federal changes to abortion rights.
“We have safe regulations and protections that apply regardless of federal laws or changes,” Wu said saidaccordingly .
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