2 days ago
‘No Kings' protest expected to walk, demonstrate during Saturday's Boston Pride parade
Boston's Pride parade expects to draw around a million spectators and 15,000 participants. But this year, protesters will be joining them on their walk from Copley Square to the Boston Common.
Rebecca Winter of Mass 5051, a group formed in February that claims to fight against authoritarianism, said they're organizing Boston's 'No Kings' demonstration that will coincide with the parade.
'No Kings' is a nationwide movement with thousands of demonstrations Saturday pushing back against the federal government.
According to their website, they say, 'They've defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services. The corruption has gone too. far. No thrones. No crowns. No kings.'
'Pride is and always has been a protest,' said Winter. 'We don't see this as a left versus right issue. We see this as an up versus down issue.'
The protests are being held across the country amidst continued chaos and demonstrations in California stemming from ICE raids.
Gary Daffin, an organizer for the parade at Boston Pride for the People, said he's been working with the leaders of the protests.
'We expect this to be a joyous occasion, joyous protest,' he told Boston 25 on Thursday. 'Our theme this year is 'Here to Stay.''
He admits that with the new administration and federal action involving the LGBTQ+ community, this year is more politically charged. The parade has often drawn counter-protesters, and they anticipate the same this year.
Boston 25 Security Analyst and former Boston Police Chief Dan Linsky said crowds can expect around 1,000 officers monitoring the protest and parade, working in tandem.
'Pride has gone off for the most part for decades in Boston without a hitch,' he said.
He expects vehicles to block streets and soft spots, while authorities monitor the crowds for any potential threats.
While he doesn't anticipate any problems, he's still asking all in attendance to keep alert and tell police if they recognize any threats.
Linskey finished, 'Alerting police officers can often be the difference between a tragic event or an act of violence.'
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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