Pro- and anti-abortion rights activists confronted off Saturday throughout a slim divider at a “Men’s March for Life” rally exterior the state capitol constructing.
“The Men’s March,” the title of each the occasion and the nationwide group calling on males to oppose abortion and march for the trigger, rallied just a few hundred folks Saturday. The march by means of Boston, scheduled to go from 11:30 a.m. to three:30 p.m., landed on the steps of the state home round 2 p.m., with a line-up of audio system prepared.
As the primary speaker took the mic, a trombone started blasting off a melody after melody, from songs from “The Imperial March” to “Montero,” interspersed with simply noise.
“Drown ’em out,” shouted one brightly dressed girl right into a swelling crowd of counter protestors separated from many of the marchers by a police-erected buffer zone of about 10 ft.
Around 2:30 p.m., a big crowd of individuals chanting “antifascista” circled in from the Boston Common, which greater than doubled the pro-abortion rights crowd.
The rally known as for a costume code of fits and formal non secular apparel, starkly contrasting with the blended costume from clown fits to para-military-like garb worn by the counter-protestors.
While one speaker declared abortion a difficulty “men need to stand up for” and claimed pregnant persons are being lied to about abortion choices, counter protestors chanted concerning the separation of church and state and towards “extremist Catholics.”
“These people want to pass laws that enforce Christian beliefs,” stated one protestor, who recognized herself as Sadie. “They want to control women’s bodies. You have to push back.”
The rally grew predictably extra tense all through the occasion, with a number of members of each side escorted away and separated by police.
Though a number of protestors engaged immediately — typically exchanging insults throughout inches at excessive quantity — no incidents appeared to escalate to bodily confrontations.
Around 3 p.m., an elementary-aged boy may very well be seen on the bottom clutching on the barricade bars and sobbing brazenly within the commotion, prompting younger protestors to extra insistently scream at his father.
There had been no arrests made through the occasion, the Boston Police Department confirmed.
The occasion additionally sparked pressure between organizers and the Catholic Archdiocese of Massachusetts.
In an announcement following the rally, Catholic Action League Executive Director C. J. Doyle stated the occasion was a “tremendous success” however known as out the Archdiocese’s lack of assist. Coyle accused the Catholic management within the state of “erecting roadblocks” to participation within the occasion and having pro-abortion political connections.
The Massachusetts Archdiocese has said assist for anti-abortion efforts.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”