Pro-Palestinian Protest in Boston Results in 13 Arrests, Injuries to Officers
Boston, MA – thirteen individuals were arrested Tuesday evening in Boston following a clash with police during a pro-Palestinian protest, authorities reported. Four police officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the confrontation.
The protest, coinciding with the second anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, began at approximately 5:30 PM at Boston Common. According to a police statement, between 200 and 300 protesters moved a few blocks from the Common, blocking a roadway and using amplified sound systems. They then formed a barrier with linked arms, preventing police vehicles from passing while officers were responding to an unrelated emergency.
When officers attempted to clear the roadway to allow emergency vehicle access, protesters surrounded police cruisers, kicked doors, and deployed smoke devices and flares.Police reported several officers were assaulted, including one struck in the face. Four officers were later transported to area hospitals for treatment of their injuries.
Those arrested, all local residents aged 19 to 27, face charges including disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and disturbing the peace. They are scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday and Thursday.
The protest was organized by Students for Justice in Palestine groups in the Boston area, according to social media posts. The Berkeley Beacon,the student newspaper of Emerson College,reported organizers had called on protesters to demand their universities divest from companies with financial ties to israel.
The exhibition occurred amidst global protests marking the anniversary of the October 7th, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the abduction of 251 people. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has, according to Gaza health officials, resulted in over 67,000 Palestinian deaths.
