BOSTON (WHDH) - The Civil Rights unit of the Boston Police department is investigating a rally that appeared to target the LGBTQ community, which ended with at least three arrests.
The arrests came after a group of men wearing masks showed up at the Loring Greenough House in Jamaica Plain before noon on Saturday, shouting chants and carrying signs during what was supposed to be a drag queen story time event for local kids and families.
About a dozen men could be seen on sidewalks chanting “pedo scum, off our streets” in videos posted to social media.
Officials said at least some of the men were associated with the white supremacist group NSC 131, or the Nationalist Social Club.
The alleged leader of the group, 23-year-old Christopher Hood of Pepperell, was arrested along with a 27-year-old counter protestor. Police arrived at the rally, charging both with Affray and Disturbing the Peace.
Authorities said they were considered “mutual combatants” in what was allegedly a confrontation during the incident.
A 21-year-old counter-protestor was also arrested. He allegedly confronted members of the group as they fled. He was charged with Disorderly Conduct as well as Disturbing the Peace and Attempt to Commit a Crime, but a judge dropped the charges, as well as those of the other counter-protestor.
Those arrested are likely to be arraigned in West Roxbury on Monday.
State and local politicians have since weighed in on the incident, including Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden, condemning those who took part in the rally.
“The presence of white supremacists at a Jamaica Plain book reading today, like their downtown Boston march earlier this month, is at once a disgrace and a warning,” Hayden said in a statement. “Society everywhere is targeted by these groups, and society everywhere must reject them.”
Taking questions at an event in Mattapan, Governor Charlie Baker told reporters “my message would be, to all of these white supremacist organizations and these other hate groups, is ‘you have no place here.'”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said the city remains ready for city-wide deployment of extra public safety resources with a “zero-tolerance approach to any groups looking to intimidate or harass residents.”
“It’s no coincidence that these cowardly groups from outside our city continue to target Boston as we showcase how representative leadership, empowered communities, and bold policies can have immediate impact,” Wu said in a statement. “We are prepared and will not be intimidated in our work to make Boston a city for everyone.”
This is not the first white supremacist incident in Boston. A group of masked men held a sign outside the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade that said “Keep Boston Irish,” and earlier this year, a white supremacist group called the Patriot Front marched through the city, who were photographed assaulting a Black man on the street.
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