Rally To Protect Russia Probe Held In Arlington

ARLINGTON, MA – Hundreds of protestors descended on the Robbins Town Garden Thursday in calling for preservation of the federal probe into alleged Russian collusion during the 2016 presidential election. The protest was one of hundreds that took place across the country, including larger demonstrations in Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and other cities.

The mass protests came a day after Matthew Whitaker – a vocal critic of the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into alleged Russian collusion – replaced Jeff Sessions as interim attorney general. To many, the appointment signals an effort by Trump to limit the special counsel's ongoing investigation or squelch it altogether.

Trump had long been displeased with Sessions after the former AG recused himself from matters related to the Russia probe. Sessions recused himself amid revelations he had met with Russians prior to confirmation hearing, which he failed to disclose in testimony prior to his appointment.

Reports say the crowd in Arlington ranged from 200-400 people. Organizers called on the crowd to contact legislators and push for legal protection for Mueller's investigation.

The rally was one of 46 held in Massachusetts, according to trumpisnotabovethelaw.org.

Tony Cantu (Patch Staff) contributed to this report.

PHOTO: Former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III speaks at a 2013 conference in New York City. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)