What started out as thousands peacefully protesting and calling for justice on Friday, ended with police arresting and pepper-spraying several people.
Protesters were calling for justice in the cases of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, wanting cover-ups to end, prosecutors held accountable and cases reopened.
On Saturday morning, Boston Police said 10 people were arrested, one summoned and four police officers suffered non-life threatening injuries during the protests.
On Friday, cameras caught police walking and carrying protesters to the police station as an already fired-up crowd screamed at officers. Police didn’t have to travel far after cameras caught them pushing back and pepper-spraying several people.
Some protesters were seen holding their friends back. One woman yelled, “You’re going to get hurt. Please stay away, I don’t want to get pepper sprayed.”
When things started, crowds marched a quarter of a mile carrying signs reading, “I can’t breathe” and “Stop killing us.”
Many of them were wearing masks as they held up their signs, practicing social distancing in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. But, many of them said they fear a far worse pandemic.
“Last time I checked, murder was not legal,” said Brock Satter of Massachusetts Action Against Police Brutality. “We are demanding the prosecution of all the police responsible.”
While Massachusetts Action Against Police Brutality wanted a safe protest, it didn’t take long before people spray painted the police station and the situation got out of hand.