Twitter Is So, So Proud After The Boston "Free Speech Rally"
On Saturday Aug. 19, a "Free Speech Rally," which many feared was a cover for an alt-right march, took place in Boston, but it wasn't alone. A counter-protest was set up, as the left's answer to the white supremacist protests after violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. The counter-protest — which was organized by ANSWER and the Boston Black Lives Matter chapter — saw an estimated 15,000 attendees. And just like Charlottesville brought about many feeling among the Twitterverse, and Twitter reactions to the Boston "Free Speech Rally" have taken over Twitter timelines in similar fashion.
The rally and counter-protest counted on the presence of over 500 police officers, either in uniform or undercover. No large bags or weapons of any kind were permitted during the rally, and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said that authorities were ready to shut down any violence.
Walsh told Reuters that a legal permit was taken out by the rally's organizers, but violence was not tolerated during Saturday's demonstration. The rally and counter-protests took place in the nation's oldest park, Boston Common, but started at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, in downtown Boston, at 10 a.m. Protesters then made their way to the Boston Common.
And now, Twitter has spoken, and they feel so proud about the "Free Speech Rally":
Twitter was thrilled to see the rally stay peaceful.
After violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia left a 32-year-old woman dead, everyone was on edge for clashes between demonstrators and counter-protesters in Boston. But it didn't happen.
Despite some tense moments between police and protesters, the rally stayed overall peaceful, with even some reports of dialogue between demonstrators and counter-protesters.
Better yet, for many — counter-protesters who turned out against white supremacy and hate vastly outnumbered attendees of the original "free speech" rally. ABC News estimated 15,000 people marched, chanting anti-Nazi slogans and supporting peace and unity.
And Twitter was seriously just so proud.
You know when Boston hates someone more than they hate the Yankees it's getting real. A round of applause to everyone in Boston for keeping peaceful protest on-trend in 2017.
