Editor’s note: The story was updated at 7:50 a.m. Wednesday to include the charges.
Video shows the chaos of a pro-Palestine protest in downtown Boston Tuesday after Boston Police claim protesters “turned on police.”
In the video, police officers could be seen pushing people away from police vehicles as others were arrested. At another point, multiple officers could be seen working together to arrest a person as they were on the ground.
“Get off of them,” one woman shouts as she video records the incident.
The video was taken and shared Tuesday night by The Berkeley Beacon, the student newspaper of Emerson College.
Following the woman’s screams, other videos shared on TikTok shows the crowd beginning to chant, “Get off of him.”
Thirteen people were arrested Tuesday night and four police officers were injured, including having broken bones.
Around 6:50 p.m., demonstrators protesting the war in Gaza began to move from the Boston Common to the intersection of Tremont and Winter Streets, Boston police spokesperson John Boyle said in an email.
“At that time, protesters turned on police, kicking a marked cruiser, assaulting officers, blocking traffic and setting off devices causing red smoke in the air,” Boyle wrote.
Two of the officers who were injured were taken to local hospitals, and initial reports indicate that multiple officers were left with broken bones, but all of their injuries are considered non-life-threatening, the spokesperson said. As of 9:40 p.m. Tuesday, Boyle had not received any reports of injured protesters.
The Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association called out the incident.
“Yet another example of so-called peaceful protesters who think it’s okay to attack police officers. Again, we say a strong message must be sent and those responsible for the violence must be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the association wrote on Facebook. “The fact that any protester thinks it’s okay to create chaos in our city by attacking our police officers and blocking intersections is entirely unlawful, unacceptable, dangerous, and immensely disrespectful to the people of Boston.”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu also called to have those involved in the attacks “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“We are extremely grateful for the work of the Boston Police in keeping the city safe and in supporting the right to peacefully protest. Boston will not tolerate violence, and we categorically condemn those who came into our community to attack our police officers. The individuals who engaged in these attacks must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Wu said in a statement, according to WCVB.
Police arrested eight men and five women ages 19 to 28 following the protest, Boyle said. They were all charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.
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