Boston Officials Condemn Attacks on Police at Protest, Street Takeover

By Gayla Cawley

Source Boston Herald

BOSTON — The Boston City Council passed a resolution condemning attacks on police after a street-racing takeover and pro-Palestinian protest turned violent this week, the latest of which sent multiple officers to the hospital with broken bones.

The Council voted, 10-0, Wednesday to approve a resolution “supporting Boston’s police officers and first responders and condemning violence against those who serve,” put forward by Councilors Erin Murphy, Ed Flynn and John FitzGerald.

“Our city strength and public trust depend on standing firmly with those who protect and serve while ensuring that violence and lawlessness will never be tolerated,” Murphy said.

Dominating the day’s discussion were two chaotic incidents that occurred over a three-day span in Boston this week.

A police cruiser was torched and officers were assaulted early Sunday morning when a street-racing takeover with over 100 participants turned violent at the intersection of Tremont Street and Massachusetts Avenue.

Two men from Rhode Island have been arrested so far in that incident and police have vowed to bring charges against more.

Murphy said the resolution was largely filed in response to that incident, but since her filing, additional police officers were attacked in a pro-Palestinian rally that took place on Boston Common Tuesday night.

Thirteen protesters were arrested in the melee, one of whom was charged with punching a police officer in the nose, breaking his nose and smashing his glasses, while another protester fired pepper spray into the face of police trying to clear Tremont Street.

Four officers were taken to the hospital with injuries sustained in what a police report describes as “riotous” conditions involving 200-300 protesters.

The protester charged with punching the officer, Roder Atwood, 21, of Somerville, was arraigned Wednesday in Boston Municipal Court and held on $10,000 bail. Five others arraigned thus far have been held on $500 or $1,000 bail.

Flynn described the South End clash on Sunday as “arson” and attempted murder,” and likened the pro-Palestinian rally on Tuesday to a “violent protest mob.”

“Last night in downtown Boston, police officers were assaulted by a violent protest mob,” Flynn said. “It was a riot. Police officers were outnumbered and unprepared for this riot. Although we are a city that welcomes public protest, what we experienced last night was a riot.

“It is never acceptable to assault a police officer or first responder. Last night and this weekend’s assault on Boston police officers must be prosecuted, and if convicted, a state sentence is warranted. There also needs to be higher bail for those who are arrested. We cannot accept lawlessness on the streets of Boston.”

Flynn wrote a letter to Police Commissioner Michael Cox on Wednesday, calling for more law enforcement throughout the city, particularly main streets and high-traffic areas. He is calling for the hire of hundreds of additional officers.

FitzGerald said this week’s violent acts in Boston are reflective of a “tipping point” in the country, in terms of how people are protesting perceived acts of injustice.

“Since when does breaking a Boston police officer’s nose … help advocate for your cause, no matter the cause?” FitzGerald said. “Anyone can start a fight. Anyone can cause trouble. That, to me, is the easiest and lowest form of action anyone can take to truly enact change.

“You must be the change you want to see in the world,” he said, adding. “Our police officers and first responders have a difficult job as it is, and we should support them every day, not just when violence occurs.”

Councilors Sharon Durkan and Enrique Pepén were not in the room when the vote on the resolution occurred and were recorded as absent.

Resolutions are legally non-binding and symbolic in nature, but are representative of a value statement from the City Council.