Walsh focused on ‘police misconduct’ after protestor violence
Mayor Martin Walsh is focusing on accusations of “police misconduct” —
even as nine people face charges of assault and battery on police
officers at the scene of this weekend’s Straight Pride Parade, where
four cops were injured.
When asked about the prosecution of the arrestees and complaints
about the police response, Walsh said in a statement,
“Let me be clear
that I take any accusation of police misconduct seriously. I also want
to be clear that sowing division between people is exactly the goal of
Straight Pride organizers, and I will not stand for it. Just as the
people of Boston work to make our values of love, inclusion and
acceptance known to all, our public safety officials work tirelessly to
keep people safe from harm every single day of the year, and that will
never change.”
During and after Saturday’s controversial Straight Pride Parade, 36
people were arrested and four police officers injured. The Herald
witnessed counter-protesters getting into altercations with police
officers and one
self-identified member of the left-wing group Antifa
told the paper that violence is the only option against the Straight
Pride organizers. Cops said they used pepper spray after people threw
so-called milkshakes at them — liquid concoctions that sometimes include
chemicals — and that officers found handcuff keys and razor blades on
some people they detained, according to published reports.
