Another Boston 'Free Speech Rally' Planned

BOSTON, MA – The group behind a controversial rally that drew about 40,000 people - although mostly counter-protestors - to the Boston Common are planning another demonstration this year. The Boston Free Speech Coalition, which organized the "Second Boston Free Speech Rally" in August, took to Facebook this week to announce that another rally is in the works. (Subscribe to Boston Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.)

"Planning for November.... More details within next couple weeks.... Stay tuned," the group wrote on Monday.

John Medlar, who emerged as the face of the Boston Free Speech Coalition as its August rally fell under scrutiny in the wake of the Charlottesville attacks, told the Boston Globe the theme will be "Defending Free Speech." The group plans to hold one more rally before the winter and has begun permit discussions with the City of Boston, according to the Globe.

In the days leading up to the "Free Speech Rally" in Boston, Medlar and the Boston Free Speech Coalition repeatedly sought to differentiate the group from the demonstration in Charlottesville and strongly condemned the hate movement.

Tens of thousands descended upon the Boston Common Aug. 19, predominantly to protest the rally and its speakers, some of whom were believed to hold right-leaning extremist views. Despite the crowd, the event remained fairly peaceful.

Police arrested 33 people and no major injuries or acts of vandalism were reported.

"In the days leading up today’s event, both Mayor Walsh and Commissioner Evans asked, encouraged and urged all those attending today’s events to be on their best behavior and to embrace nonviolence over violence," Boston police said in a statement after the rally. "Thankfully, the majority of those attending did just that. Unfortunately, not everybody understood the importance of good behavior."

Photo by Dan Libon (Patch Staff)