BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Dueling political protests kicked off in Copley Square Sunday afternoon, as early voters deposited their ballots into the drop-box outside Boston Public Library.
At least three counter-protests were planned in response to a protest organized by Super Happy Fun America, the group that held the controversial Straight Pride Parade last year.
Dozens of protestors supporting President Trump gathered in front of the library, facing hundreds of counter-protestors, with each side separated by metal barricades.
According to WBZ-TV's Tiffany Chan, the protest "turned hostile" within the first hour, with police officers on the ground controlling the crowds. Video showed a person with a trans-pride flag being dragged along the ground outside the library, where the SHFA supporters were protesting, as someone can be heard yelling "get him out of here."
SHFA said its "Peaceful Protest Against Democrat Violence" would be "call[ing] upon the Democrats to fully renounce the violent actions of their supporters." Organizers said the rally would also include featured speaker Rayla Campbell, a Republican who will appear as a write-in option on the November ballot against Rep. Ayanna Pressley in the 7th district.
The Freedom Fighter Coalition said it would be counter-protesting SHFA's pro-Trump event, and that attendees would "show resistance and counter protest" SHFA's message.
Refuse Fascism New England also invited locals to attend the counter-protest in Copley Square, calling SHFA "one of the white supremacist MAGA - thug groups spawned by this regime."
A group called Solidarity Against Hate-Boston said "Boston is the people’s city and no place for fascists," calling for supporters to join the counter-protest "to make the message clear once again."
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(Photo: TiffanyChanWBZ/Twitter)