Boston's 'Free Speech Rally' Drawing Thousands; Police Have 'Zero Tolerance' Policy

>>>Patch is live at the scene of the rally. Click here for the latest from the "Free Speech" rally.

BOSTON, MA – The controversial "Second Boston Free Speech Rally" will move forward Saturday amid concerns over safety in the wake of violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, last weekend. On Wednesday, the city granted a permit to the Boston Free Speech Coalition, the group behind the demonstration, for 100 people and several security stipulations.

According to the "Second Boston Free Speech Rally" Facebook page, the demonstration is expected to run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. But city officials have made it clear that law enforcement will have a "zero tolerance" policy and will shut the rally down if anyone gets out of hand.

Patch will be live at Boston Common Saturday. Subscribe to Boston Patch for breaking news alerts and live updates. Will you be attending? Send your photos and account to mike.carraggi@patch.com.

Speakers

Scheduled speakers include U.S. Senate candidate Shiva Ayyadurai, congressional candidate Samson Racioppi, former Infowars writer Joe Biggs and activist Kyle "Based Stickman" Chapman.

Vice co-founder and "Proud Boys" leader Gavin McInnes and right-wing activists Tim Gionet — known as "Baked Alaska" — Cassandra Fairbanks and Augustus Invictus have bowed out of the rally.

Who Will Be Attending?

The exact number of people who will be at Saturday's rally is in dispute. Based on social media, "thousands" of pro- and anti-rally demonstrators are expected to attend, but the actual number could be far less.

According to NBC, the ANSWER Coalition, which is staging a "Stand for Solidarity" counter-protest with the Coalition to Organize and Mobilize Boston Against Trump and several local organizations at the State House at 11 a.m., has about 10,000 people interested in the event on Facebook.

A demonstration organized by Black Lives Matter, "Fight Supremacy," raised more than $20,000 by Thursday night and has more than 10,000 expected attendees, NBC reported. That protest will begin at 10 a.m. at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center and march to the Boston Common, where it is expected to merge with the ANSWER Coalition. Both organizations have not received permits for their demonstrations, according to NBC.

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Black Lives Matter and the ANSWER Coalition have strongly disavowed violence from either side at the event. Antifa, which also does not have a permit, is expected to show up, but the loosely organized group has not officially confirmed its presence.

Thomas Robb, national director of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, told the Boston Herald the hate group is expected to have a presence at the rally. He said members from Springfield will attend, and he "assumes" members from the Boston area will also be going.

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Rally organizers have sought to differentiate it from the demonstration in Charlottesville and strongly condemned the hate movement in repeated statements this week. Organizer John Medlar told the Herald he will not allow the rally to be "hijacked" by the KKK and will "immediately denounce" anyone with a swastika or people saluting Hitler.

On Monday, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh told any hate groups planning to attend to stay home and reiterated his message at a press conference Friday.

"The governor and I made it very clear we don't want hate groups to come to our city or our state," Walsh said. "We will not tolerate any incitements of violence. We are taking every precaution necessary to keep our city safe."

Safety Measures

The Boston Police Department said rally attendees can expect a "large police presence" of both uniformed and undercover officers, and the department will deploy fixed video cameras and mobile video support teams. About 500 police officers will be at the Common, according to the Associated Press.

Visitors to the Boston Common are strongly discouraged from bringing backpacks, large bags or strollers. These items may be subject to search, and there will be no designated storage area to leave belongings.

The following items are prohibited:

• Firearms, knives, weapons, sharp objects, shields or fireworks
• Pop-up tents or canopies
• Cans, glass containers, pre-mixed beverages or alcoholic beverages
• Wagons or pull carts
• Coolers
• Drones
• Pets (excluding certified service animals)
• Grills, propane tanks or open flames
• Bicycles
• Flag poles, bats, clubs, sticks (including signs attached to sticks)
• Any athletic equipment or other item that could be used as a weapon

Street Closures/Parking Restrictions

There will be rolling street closures as marchers make their way from Roxbury to Boston Common. Drivers should expect delays from about 9-11 a.m. The streets that will be affected include:

• Tremont Street, from Malcolm X Boulevard to Charles Street
• Charles Street South and Charles Street near the Boston Common
• feeder streets into Tremont Street.

Parking is prohibited in and around the Common. There will be signs reading "No Stopping Boston Police Special Event" posted on roadways where there is no parking. No food or clothing vendors will be on the Common. The following locations will be closed:

• Visitor Information Center
• Frog Pond
• Earle of Sandwich
• Swan Boats

Police will begin towing cars parked in the following locations at 6 a.m. on Saturday:

Beacon Street South side (Boston Common, Public Garden side), from Arlington Street to Park Street

Boylston Street
North side, Public Garden side, from Arlington Street to Charles Street

Charles Street South
Both sides, from Tremont Street to Boylston Street

Charles Street
Both sides, from Boylston Street to Beacon Street

Columbus Avenue
Both sides, from Coventry Street to Camden Street

Malcolm X Boulevard
Both sides, from Shawmut Avenue to Tremont Street

Park Street
Both sides, from Beacon Street to Tremont Street

Tremont Street
Both sides, from Malcolm X Boulevard to Charles Street South

Photo credit: By Daderot (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons