Protesters and counterprotesters clashed in Boston Common on Sunday where participants were serenaded by a brass band and hundreds of police officers.
The event was organized by the Refounding Fathers Coalition and Super Happy Fun America, the group that planned the controversial “Straight Pride” parade in 2019, in order to protest “vaccine passports, face diapers, mass layoffs, and unconstitutional mandates.”
Two of the founders of Super Happy Fun America were charged in the January 6 Capitol insurrection.
Police formed a line between the protesters and counterprotesters. A group of counterprotesters playing musical instruments tried to drown out the protesters. The two sides confronted each other for a few hours before police intervened to allow the right-wing protesters to leave the area. Police said they made two arrests.
One counterprotester said the large size of Sunday’s counter-demonstration sent the message that many people in the area reject hate speech.
“People don’t get to say hateful things without somebody else standing up and saying, ‘No,’ ” she said.