The Boston Straight Pride Parade Actually Happened And People Were Not Happy
Clashes erupted at a “Straight Pride” parade in Boston on Saturday when counter-protesters turned up in droves to oppose the event.
Boston Police Department spokesperson James Kenneally told HuffPost three dozen people were arrested on various charges, including disorderly conduct, unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon and assaulting officers.
According to the Boston Globe, about 600 counter-protesters met an estimated 200 marchers when the parade reached City Hall Plaza, where police barricades prevented protesters from accessing a concert stage where the Straight Pride rally was held.
The event featured floats and signs expressing messages of support for President Donald Trump such as “2020 Trump” and “Build The Wall.”
Ostensibly upset that city officials were protecting the marchers and permitting the parade, some protesters reportedly turned their anger towards the police towards end of the rally, prompting scuffles, arrests and the use of pepper spray.
People at the counter-protest event featured signs with a range of messages for the Straight Pride marchers, including “Oppressor cannot be oppressed,” “A straight pride parade is called TRAFFIC,” and “love is love and straight pride is hate pride.”
A Facebook event for the counter-protest, titled “Fight Supremacy: Hands Off Our Pride,” called the march organizers white supremacists ― a claim supported by multiple links between the organizers and far-right groups.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) derided the event on Twitter, pointing out a clear lack of female representation at an event purported to promote being straight.
For men who are allegedly so “proud” of being straight, they seem to show real incompetence at attracting women to their event.
Seems more like a “I-Struggle-With-Masculinity” parade to me. 🤷🏽?♀?
Hope they grow enough over the next year to support / join LGBTQ fam next #Pride! 🏳??🌈 https://t.co/DUb52ktWOP— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) August 31, 2019
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh also condemned the event, suggesting Bostonians celebrate events this weekend which promote the city’s values of “inclusion, love of the community and acceptance of all.”
Let's continue to turn our backs on hatred, using our voices to continue spreading the message of love.
— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) August 31, 2019
This weekend I'm celebrating what makes our city so great – our people – by attending neighborhood block parties, visiting farmer’s markets and BBQs, and celebrating safe neighborhoods. I invite all residents of Boston to join me in doing the same.
— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) August 31, 2019
If you want to see what Boston is all about, take a look at the events happening in our City this weekend that promote our values of inclusion, love of community and acceptance of all.
— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) August 31, 2019
The rally was organized by Super Fun Happy America, a group which, according to its website, advocates on behalf of the straight community ― which they believe are an “oppressed majority.”
“The day will come when straights will finally be included as equals among all of the other orientations,” group president John Hugo is quoted as saying on the site.
City of Boston officials approved the group’s application to host the event in June, but denied their request to raise the Straight Pride flag at City Hall Plaza.
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
