Thousands join anti-racism march in Boston

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US President Donald Trump is facing increasing backlash over his response to last weekend’s racially-motivated protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, turned into violence and death. More rallies and counter-protests were seen for the weekend.

Thousands of anti-racism demonstrators flooded the streets of Boston Saturday, dwarfing a gathering of white nationalists in the same city, triggering scuffles with police but avoiding the serious violence that marred a similar event a week earlier in Virginia.

A so-called "free speech" rally by far-right groups had been scheduled to run until 2 p.m. (1800 GMT), but a half-hour before that police escorted its participants－whose numbers appeared to be in the dozens－to safety past the throng of anti-racism protesters.

Before the rally, Boston’s Mayor said: They’re not welcome there.

“The governor and I made it very clear we don’t want hate groups to come to our city or our state,” Martin Walsh said. “We will not tolerate any incitement to violence. We are taking every precaution necessary to keep our city safe.”

Local media cited police estimates of at least 15,000 protestors, with some reporting that up to 30,000 marched

While Boston saw no repeat of the violence that erupted in Charlottesville, there were isolated scuffles between police and protesters, and around 20 arrests were reported－prompting the US president to swing his weight behind the city's law enforcement.

"Looks like many anti-police agitators in Boston," Donald Trump tweeted as the march drew to a close. "Police are looking tough and smart! Thank you." "Great job by all law enforcement officers and Boston Mayor @marty_walsh," he added. Hundreds of police－some in helmets and black riot gear, armed with wooden clubs－were present in the area, helping separate the rival camps.

The Boston rally was actually planned before the Virginia clashes. But the number of people expected to attend had surged in recent days, following the violence, and US President Donald Trump's blaming of “both sides.”

Thousands of anti-racism demonstrators flooded the streets of Boston Saturday, dwarfing a gathering of white nationalists in the city, triggering scuffles with police but avoiding the serious violence that marred a similar event a week earlier in Virginia. /AFP Photo

One person died and nearly 20 were wounded on Saturday, August 12, when protesters confronted armed far-right neo-Nazis and white supremacists who descended on the liberal university town.

Trump’s comments were met with criticism and backlash. Business leaders left two of his economic advisory councils that were subsequently disbanded. On Friday, his entire arts council resigned.

Meanwhile, more national charities are scrapping plans to hold their annual fundraisers at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida residence－often dubbed the southern White House.

And a top media figure – James Murdoch, CEO of 21st Century Fox, which owns Fox News – is the latest executive to criticize Trump’s response to Charlottesville－saying it concerns “all of us as Americans” and announced he would donate one million dollars to an American group fighting anti-Semitism.

Top Democratic lawmakers are now calling for the president to be censured – a type of formal Congressional rebuke. Former Vice President Al Gore has called on Trump to resign.

President Trump isn’t bending to the criticisms. But some are already suggesting that the departure of White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon－who reportedly had ties to the American far-right－may be at least in part a concession to those critics.

Source(s): AFP