The city of Boston increased police presence and public transportation options to ensure public safety during Saturday’s United for Justice with Peace march, Mayor Thomas M. Menino said at a press conference Friday.
Menino said that although he expected the march attended by more than 30,000 to be peaceful, a strong police force would be present throughout the city to protect Back Bay residents and businesses.
‘Everyone has a right to express their opinion, and in doing so, a responsibility to respect the laws,’ Menino said. ‘It is our goal to make sure that tomorrow’s march is safe for everyone.’
Boston Police Commissioner Paul F. Evans said it was possible that a ‘small percentage’ of protesters might become violent or destructive to property, lock arms or lay in the street. He added that these possible ‘acts of civil disobedience’ would be dealt with on an individual basis by the extra police forces present at the march, and would not necessarily result in arrest.
‘That’s our job as police to make sure that people’s rights are protected,’ Evans said. ‘We will not tolerate acts of violence.’
Menino announced that parking would be restricted on several streets, including parts of Beacon Street, Boylston Street and Hereford Street in order to accommodate the march route. ‘No Parking’ signs were posted Thursday to minimize inconvenience to business owners and customers. Residents living on these restricted streets were offered discounted parking rates at the Auditorium Garage at Dalton Street.
Michael Mulhern, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority general manager, encouraged everyone traveling into Boston to use public transportation. The MBTA ran extra ‘T’ cars on the Red Line and the Orange Line as well as extra commuter rails to ‘move people effectively and efficiently,’ Mulhern said.
Menino refused to disclose a cost of the extra services to the city, however.
‘You can’t put a price on public safety,’ he said, having announced extensive future lay-offs of city workers, including police and firemen, just days earlier.
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