Tweet
Boston Police Deal With DNC Protesters
2 hours, 47 minutes ago
By ADAM GORLICK, Associated Press Writer
BOSTON - After three days of calm, protests turned ugly at the Democratic National Convention as demonstrators burned a two-faced effigy depicting President Bush (news - web sites) on one side and Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) on the other.
One protester wearing a black hood was dragged from the crowd and detained by police. It was not immediately clear whether he was being arrested or what he had done. Streets near the FleetCenter were being barricaded by police.
Police and protesters alike worked to keep the demonstrations peaceful Thursday, despite warnings that some groups might use violence to capture the attention of the large audience on the last day of the convention.
After four problem-free days, police prepared for a surge in spontaneous street protests. The Boston-area Bl(A)ck Tea Society, an ad hoc group of self-described anarchists and anti-authority activists that formed a year ago to stage protests at the convention, called for "decentralized direct action" Thursday.
The group does not advocate violence but encourages demonstrators to hold street protests regardless of whether they have secured permits from the city.
Bl(A)ck Tea members joined with anti-war groups in a march that began in Copley Square shortly after noon and quickly grew into the largest demonstration since thousands of anti-war and anti-abortion protesters greeted delegates on Sunday as they arrived in the city.
The crowd, estimated at around 400 people, looped through the city's Financial District before heading toward the FleetCenter. They were accompanied by about 100 police officers wearing helmets and carrying shields. Seven protesters with hoods tied themselves to a police barricade.
When they arrived outside the fenced-in demonstration zone near the FleetCenter, the protesters set fire to a two-faced effigy — one side showing Bush, the other Kerry. As it burned, the protesters stomped on the puppet, while others burned copies of Bush's autobiography.
Boston Police Commissioner Kathleen O'Toole ordered police tactical teams out in force Thursday, as they have been throughout the week.
State police Lt. Col. Jack Kelly said Thursday's police deployment was the biggest in recent Boston history.
Comment