BOSTON (WHDH) - An organizer of August’s controversial Boston ‘Free Speech’ rally is suing Boston Mayor Marty Walsh for slander.
RELATED: ‘Free Speech Rally’ ends early as thousands of counterprotesters take over Boston Common
Brandon Navom, of Lowell, filed a $100 million lawsuit Monday in Berkshire Superior Court over alleged claims made by Walsh that organizers, speakers and event invitees were white supremacist and members of hate groups.
“The mayor said in no uncertain terms that we were white supremacists, KKK members and neo-Nazis,” Navom said. “This is completely untrue.”
The lawsuit alleges that in the immediate aftermath of the deadly Charlottesville rally, Walsh sought to exploit the tragedy for his own political gain.
RELATED: Charlottesville victim’s mother urges ‘righteous action’
In the complaint, Navom claims he lost his software-consulting job and was subject to all manner of hateful harassment and threats by an “Internet hate mob.”
“Our complaint outlines the numerous slanderous statements made by the Mayor of Boston, and shows that a wealth of information that was available on the Internet showing that the organizers, speakers and attendees were not white supremacists or members of hate groups. It is literally laughable to think the mayor did not know that the speakers were not white supremacists. I believe the Mayor was purposefully lying or was grotesquely incompetent. But at the very best the Mayor’s comments represents a wanton, callous and reckless disregard for the truth,” said Attorney Rinaldo Del Gallo.
Del Gallo also noted that Walsh tarnished Navom’s reputation with “numerous slanderous statements were a grotesque display of virtue signaling for political gain for an upcoming election, with an egregious indifference to the truth.”
Walsh said the city of Boston rejects “white supremacy, antisemitism, neo-Nazis and the KKK” after the deadly violence in Charlottesville, but never directed his comments at any specific individual.
When asked about the lawsuit on Wednesday, Walsh declined comment, but did say public safety was his main concern at the time.
“When that conversation came to Boston, we were concerned with what happened the week before in Charlottesville,” Walsh said.
The rally on Aug. 19 was attended by nearly 40,000 counterprotesters and just a few free speech activists. It drew national media attention.
(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)