Thousands of counterdemonstrators marched Saturday in downtown Boston in response to a self-described free speech rally that has sparked concerns of possible violence.
The march and rally come one week after racially motivated protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, turned deadly.
A Facebook page purportedly linked to the Boston rally sought to distance itself from last weekend's white supremacist gathering in Charlottesville. Counterprotester Heather Heyer, 32, was killed when a car plowed into a crowd of anti-racism advocates gathered to oppose the "Unite the Right" rally there.
Organizers for the Boston event invited "libertarians, conservatives, traditionalists, classical liberals, (Donald) Trump supporters or anyone else who enjoys their right to free speech," according to a group calling itself the Boston Free Speech Coalition.
Throngs of counterprotesters turned out organized by a coalition of mostly left-leaning groups and activists such as the Black Lives Matter movement.
Amid a heavy police presence, men, women and children from diverse backgrounds showed up Saturday morning to march from the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Roxbury to Boston Common. Some carried signs with messages such as "No Trump. No KKK. No racist USA" and "Americans against hate." At times, they chanted "Hey hey, ho ho, white supremacy has got to go" and "Black lives matter."
"Boston is a beautiful city, but Boston needs to get it together," counterdemonstrator Lewis Goody said. "It has always been a racist city."
The march and rally were largely peaceful except for moments when counterprotesters jeered supporters of President Donald Trump. The rally began at noon on the historic Boston Common.
At one point, police escorted a rally participant wearing an American flag over his shoulders as counterdemonstrators shouted "Shame" and "Boston hates you."
Boston police tweeted at 1:30 p.m.: "Free Speech" rally is officially over. Demonstrators have left the Common.
Around the same time, helmeted police officers could be seen on news footage moving in to separate rally participants from counterdemonstrators.
At least eight people -- apparently counterprotesters -- were arrested, according to a CNN correspondent and producer on the scene.
The event, which was planned before the violence in Charlottesville, took place amid a heated national debate about racism and the future of Confederate monuments.
Smaller protests were expected in cities throughout the nation.
In Portland, Oregon, hundreds took to the streets Friday night for an "Eclipse Hate" demonstration, which organizers said was intended to show solidarity with the people of Charlottesville, CNN affiliate KPTV reported. The event included a moment of silence for victims of hate.
In Hot Springs, Arkansas, a pro-Confederate rally was planned for Saturday amid heightened security concerns following the clashes in Virginia, according to CNN affiliate KATV.
On Twitter Saturday, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh appealed for calm: "I ask everyone to be peaceful today and respect our City. Love, not hate. We stand together against intolerance."
Around the same time, helmeted police officers could be seen on news footage moving in to separate rally participants from counterdemonstrators.
At least eight people -- apparently counterprotesters -- were arrested, according to a CNN correspondent and producer on the scene.
The event, which was planned before the violence in Charlottesville, took place amid a heated national debate about racism and the future of Confederate monuments.
Smaller protests were expected in cities throughout the nation.
In Portland, Oregon, hundreds took to the streets Friday night for an "Eclipse Hate" demonstration, which organizers said was intended to show solidarity with the people of Charlottesville, CNN affiliate KPTV reported. The event included a moment of silence for victims of hate.
In Hot Springs, Arkansas, a pro-Confederate rally was planned for Saturday amid heightened security concerns following the clashes in Virginia, according to CNN affiliate KATV.
On Twitter Saturday, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh appealed for calm: "I ask everyone to be peaceful today and respect our City. Love, not hate. We stand together against intolerance."