Protests in Boston Common over abortion rights

By Birdi Diehl

A pro-life demonstration clashed with pro-choice counter-protestors on the Boston Common yesterday. These protests led to 9 arrests. 

The conflict began after a men’s march of anti-abortion advocates assembled outside of Planned Parenthood on Commonwealth Avenue on Saturday. The march moved to the Boston Common’s bandstand for speakers to call for an end to abortions. 

Once at the Common, the Men’s March was met with counter-protestors, some were dressed as clowns and played circus music, blew horns, and rang cowbells. 

Boston Police separated the two groups with barricades and later, made arrests for disorderly conduct. 

Co-founder of the Men’s March, Jim Havens said that the protest was “peaceful” and that “many people… who came out to try to block us from continuing on in our march.”

“We believe that there’s a man behind every abortion, and we’re calling on men to love women and children, not harm them,” continued Haven. 

The Men’s March is “a group of demonstrators against legal abortion access” with “most members of the group [being] Catholic,” according to CBS News Boston. 

Today, Mayor Michelle Wu addressed the event, saying, “We’re obviously in quite divided times right now and the city has always been a space where freedom of speech leads folks from all different views.” 

The Catholic Action League of Massachusetts has asked Attorney General Andrea Campbell and Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden to file criminal charges against those arrested.