A pair hundred males, principally Catholic, principally from out of city, marched from the Packards Nook Deliberate Parenthood to the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Frequent right now to attempt to impose their will on a state the place abortion stays a proper and a part of ladies’s well being care.
At Kenmore Sq., they have been met by counter-protesters, with whom police briefly scuffled, knocking a few of then – and a Globe reporter – to the bottom.
This introduced the forced-birth parade to a halt earlier than members resumed strolling to the Frequent, the place they entered a cattle chute fabricated from steel police obstacles to get to the bandstand, which was ringed about 40 toes out by two rings of obstacles and enormous numbers of BPD officers and state troopers in physique armor, holding lengthy picket batons.
Strolling the chute:
As in Kenmore Sq., the lads (and three ladies) have been additionally met there by severe protesters, who booed them, yelled “Disgrace!” and “Go residence, fascists!” and gave them the finger.
However the forced-birth males have been additionally greeted by clowns, from Clown March Boston, making an attempt to indicate the ridiculousness of their march by way of Boston:
As soon as all the lads, principally in fits, some in clerical garb, have been assembled, the lads (and a token lady) up on the bandstand started piously calling for all fetuses to be carried to time period, though it was laborious to listen to them previous the police barricades due to all of the band music, the yelling, the booing, the banging of the outer ring of obstacles by protesters.
Compelled-birth advocates:
One suited compelled birther, carrying a big poster displaying what was alleged to be an aborted fetus chopped into items, briefly turned in direction of the protesters. He would clutch his chest, whether or not as a result of he was experiencing heartburn or to indicate he was “talking” from the center was unclear, then would do a bizarre type of wave, presumably of forgiveness in direction of the demonstrators. One other extra clearly prayed at them:
Robby Roadsteamer, who had earlier confronted the marchers on the Deliberate Parenthood, although, was having none of it. By way of his bullhorn, pointed on the males wanting his manner, he’d adapt songs for the second, resembling “My physique, my selection” to the tune of “Candy Caroline” and “I am transport as much as Deliberate Parenthood” to the tune of the Dropkick Murphys track. After which he’d recite a industrial for 1-800-54-Big and thank individuals for listening to Oldies 103.3.
When the lads and the three ladies and the three boys had had sufficient, police lined the cattle shute so they might depart, some in direction of the intersection of Tremont and Boylston, others again onto the Frequent alongside Boylston.
One of many compelled birthers, armed together with his personal loudspeaker, determined to scream again on the protesters standing alongside the chute, whilst police have been telling him sufficient, time to go away. One protester tried to toss some water on him, however the man evaded getting moist:
Not lengthy after that, police detained two ladies protesters and led them off the Frequent, their arms behind their backs in plastic ties.
