Prior to the Fourth of July, a sizable contingent of white nationalists reportedly marched along Boston’s Freedom Trail in a rally that descended into violence.
In an effort to “reclaim America,” Patriot Front led close to 100 supporters carrying white supremacist banners and shields through the Massachusetts capital on Saturday.
As they made their way to the Old State House and City Hall Plaza, the group were shown on camera marching step with a snare drum, flags, and banners in hand.
After a black man alleged that he had been assaulted by the protesters, Boston police opened an inquiry into the event.
He claimed to have been attacked and knocked to the ground by Patriot Front members who were wearing shields.
Violence against protestors has been connected to Patriot Front on multiple occasions.
A group thought to be connected to the organization was detained last month for plotting to riot during an Idaho Pride celebration.
Around 12.30 pm on Saturday, 100 people were marching through downtown Boston while carrying shields, Patriot Front flags, and American flags that were upside down. This alerted Boston police to the event.
A report of an assault and violence sent police to Dartmouth and Stuart streets about an hour later.
The victim, a black guy aged 34, claimed that the group picked him out while he was going down the street.
According to an incident report obtained by The Boston Globe, the man told police he had taken out his phone when he “caught himself being shoved around in the middle of a group of men with shields and masks.”
In an apparent attempt to leave, the victim allegedly shouted at the group to move away from him and began waving his arms.
When his additional attackers “got in,” he claims they “kicked him to the ground and continued to assault him.”
The individual was transported by paramedics to Tufts Medical Center, where non-life-threatening injuries were attended to. His state right now is unknown.
Although the precise protest path is uncertain, video posted to social media showed the group marching through the city’s Downtown Crossing.
The group was also sighted in front of Back Bay Station, the Old State House, Haymarket, and the Copley Square branch of the Boston Public Library.
As the throng marched across Copley Square, witnesses claim an uncovered man wearing a cowboy hat led them in chants of “Life! Liberty! Victory!”
The group was provoked by a bystander who questioned why they were hiding behind masks.
Why won’t you reveal your faces? She asked, “What are you terrified of?”
There is a worldwide pandemic, one man retorted.
God bless you, ma’am,” a another protester responded.
The woman informed the newspaper that another man drew down his gaiter, pursed his lips, and went away.
Later, the demonstrators boarded a train for Malden’s Oak Grove Station.
According to a representative for the Massachusetts State Police, no arrests were made during the rally, but troopers had watched the march “as we do any other significant demonstration.”
There have been no instances of the group interfering with train service, according to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
Michelle Wu, the mayor of Boston, criticized the group’s presence in her city and branded the demonstrators as cowards.
To the white nationalists who marched through downtown today, she wrote, “When we march, we don’t hide our faces.”
Your hatred is both cowardly and repulsive, and it contradicts everything Boston stands for.
The mayor said, “As we commemorate Boston’s past as the cradle of liberty, we applaud the ongoing struggle to protect those liberties for all.”
A letter outlining Patriot Force’s involvement in the city during the previous year was published on Facebook by City Councilor Ed Flynn.
In his essay, Flynn said, “It is completely disgusting to read accounts and witness recordings on social media of dozens of neo-Nazis making another bold public exhibition with their hateful beliefs.”
“Although the growing activity we continue to see from local neo-Nazis and white supremacist groups has offended and deeply upset all people of goodwill and decency, we can no longer say that we’re surprised with what we continue to see around the country, unfortunately.”
The Patriot Front marching beside the Freedom Trail on the Fourth of July holiday weekend is an insult to everyone who have battled for freedom, equality, and justice, according to Robert Trestan, director of the Anti-Defamation League New England.
Texas native Thomas Ryan Rousseau, 23, of Grapevine, created Patriot Front in 2017. He was raised in the Dallas suburbs and eventually rose to prominence as one of the right’s most important personalities.
After the 2017 white nationalist “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, Rousseau founded the organization, which is in charge of more than 80% of all white supremacist propaganda.
Rousseau split from Vanguard America, another extremist group that was also founded by a then-teenager in 2015.
According to Jon Lewis, a researcher at George Washington University who focuses on domestic violent extremism, the group is a white supremacist neo-Nazi organization whose members view Jews, LGBTQ persons, and black Americans as enemies.
According to Lewis, their strategy entails locating local issues to exploit, organizing on websites and apps like Telegram, and then showing up to events walking in orderly columns wearing blue- or white-collared shirts as a show of force.
Rousseau and 30 other members were detained last month for plotting to riot at Idaho Pride.
Criminal conspiracy is a felony that the detained individuals are accused of.
For the scheduled procession, protesters traveled from at least 11 different states across the nation.
The group was allegedly planning to cause mayhem at the “Pride in the Park” event at Coeur d’Alene City Park, which was taking place about ten minutes away from where they were detained.
Police allegedly busted the group after receiving a tip from a citizen who saw the men loading themselves into the car while wearing white masks and wielding shields.
A video of the massive arrest shows dozens of guys kneeling in handcuffs in a field while wearing masks and shirts that read “reclaim American.”
It wasn’t immediately obvious which members of the group were armed.
Since then, a lawyer for some of the alleged white supremacists has attested that the charges against the members – a Class F felony punishable with up to five years in prison – are in violation of their First Amendment rights, citing that they do not have a history of violence and that Americans are permitted the right to protest.
Even if you disagree with the speech, he remarked last month, “They have the right to make it.”