Video, Photos: VOA Reports on Competing Boston Rallies
Counterprotesters prepare to walk 3 kilometers to Boston Common, where a "free speech" rally was being held, in Boston, Aug. 19, 2017.
Thousands of leftist activists marched Saturday through downtown Boston in opposition to a planned free-speech rally that featured right-wing speakers, heavily outnumbering the few dozen people who showed up for the rally.
The rally was organized in July by a group calling itself Boston Free Speech, which says it is made up of a coalition of "libertarians, progressives, conservatives and independents."
Organizers stand on the bandstand on Boston Common during a "free speech" rally staged by conservative activists, in Boston, Aug. 19, 2017. Counterprotesters stand along barricades ringing the bandstand.
John Medlar, one of the group's organizers, told multiple media outlets the rally would not welcome white supremacists, and he has denounced racist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan.
Dueling Protest Groups Hold Rallies in Boston
1/13People assemble on Boston Common before a planned "Free Speech" rally by conservative organizers begins, Aug. 19, 2017, in Boston.
Conservative free speech advocates and left-wing counterprotesters are holding dueling rallies in the East Coast city of Boston as police say they will not tolerate violence from either side.
2/13Counter protest groups gather for a 3 kilometer walk to the Boston Common.
Conservative free speech advocates and left-wing counterprotesters are holding dueling rallies in the East Coast city of Boston as police say they will not tolerate violence from either side.
3/13Organizers stand on the bandstand on Boston Common during a "free speech" rally staged by conservative activists, in Boston, Aug. 19, 2017. Counterprotesters stand along barricades ringing the bandstand.
Conservative free speech advocates and left-wing counterprotesters are holding dueling rallies in the East Coast city of Boston as police say they will not tolerate violence from either side.
4/13Boston Police and police from nearby districts, on bicycle patrol, getting final direction on the day's protests. City leaders have warned of zero tolerance for violence.
Conservative free speech advocates and left-wing counterprotesters are holding dueling rallies in the East Coast city of Boston as police say they will not tolerate violence from either side.
5/13Counterprotesters hold signs and chant at the Statehouse before a planned "Free Speech" rally by conservative organizers begins on the adjacent Boston Common, Aug. 19, 2017, in Boston.
Conservative free speech advocates and left-wing counterprotesters are holding dueling rallies in the East Coast city of Boston as police say they will not tolerate violence from either side.
6/13Counterprotesters march in Boston, Aug. 19. 2017.
Conservative free speech advocates and left-wing counterprotesters are holding dueling rallies in the East Coast city of Boston as police say they will not tolerate violence from either side.
7/13 The Boston Area Brigade of Activist Musicians aka BABAM will march with the counterprotestors. Rebecca Gorlin wears a sign on her back about Jewish resistance as she plans to march playing her snare drum.
Conservative free speech advocates and left-wing counterprotesters are holding dueling rallies in the East Coast city of Boston as police say they will not tolerate violence from either side.
8/13State and city police inspect people arriving for a "Free Speech" rally on Boston Common, Aug. 19, 2017, in Boston.
Conservative free speech advocates and left-wing counterprotesters are holding dueling rallies in the East Coast city of Boston as police say they will not tolerate violence from either side.
9/13First clash with police. Counter-protestors stopped because of picket signs.
Conservative free speech advocates and left-wing counterprotesters are holding dueling rallies in the East Coast city of Boston as police say they will not tolerate violence from either side.
10/13Matt (no last name given) waits for friends to march to the Boston Common. He's a war veteran and says "I don't want my country to look like this with so much hate and people who want to kill everyone else."
Conservative free speech advocates and left-wing counterprotesters are holding dueling rallies in the East Coast city of Boston as police say they will not tolerate violence from either side.
11/13Counterprotesters march toward Boston Common where a "free speech" rally was being held by conservative activists in Boston, Aug. 19, 2017.
Conservative free speech advocates and left-wing counterprotesters are holding dueling rallies in the East Coast city of Boston as police say they will not tolerate violence from either side.
12/13Counterprotesters gather against a planned "free speech" rally being held by conservative organizers at Boston Common in Boston, Aug. 19, 2017.
Conservative free speech advocates and left-wing counterprotesters are holding dueling rallies in the East Coast city of Boston as police say they will not tolerate violence from either side.
13/13Counterprotesters gather to march against a planned "free speech" rally being held by conservative organizers at Boston Common in Boston, Aug. 19, 2017.
Conservative free speech advocates and left-wing counterprotesters are holding dueling rallies in the East Coast city of Boston as police say they will not tolerate violence from either side.
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Despite the group's rejection of white supremacists, ANSWER Coalition Boston, a local chapter of the Black Lives Matter movement, held a counterdemonstration, which it dubbed "Fight Supremacy," to oppose the free speech rally.
The free speech rally, however, was sparsely attended, with never more than a few dozen people. Reuters reported that the event's speakers could not be heard over the shouts by counterprotesters, who were kept away from the gazebo where the free speech rally was held.
Counterprotesters gather to march against a planned "free speech" rally being held by conservative organizers at Boston Common in Boston, Aug. 19, 2017.
The free speech rally ended a half-hour early -- it had received a permit to gather from 12-2 p.m. EDT.
Police estimated that 40,000 people took part in the demonstrations Saturday.
Police said they arrested more than two dozen people Saturday.
The thousands of leftist activists marching Saturday heavily outnumbered those attending the free-speech rally featuring right-wing speakers, which was scheduled in July by a group calling itself Boston Free Speech.
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