City, News

Thousands gather to protest Garner, Brown decisions

By: Gherardo Astaldi and Gregory Yang

Thousands of protesters gathered at the Boston Common Thursday night in response to Wednesday’s grand jury decision not to indict the New York City Police officer who killed Eric Garner, a 44-year-old black man, by placing him in a chokehold in July.

The protest, which was scheduled to coincide with the city’s annual tree-lighting ceremony, was promoted through a Facebook event called “#EnoughIsEnough: We Are The Ones, Justice For Eric Garner.”

While the Facebook event had a scheduled start time of 7 p.m., crowds began gathering nearly an hour earlier. Protesters marched up to the gates of City Hall and began chanting, “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!”

“Eric Garner, Michael Brown, shut this racist system down!,” demonstrators chanted.

The rally lasted for several hours as protesters took to the streets, highways and eventually the Park Street Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Station.

Several drivers honked simultaneously with protesters showing their support. Police tried to contain the crowds and prevent them from entering City Hall by lining their bikes up against each other and heavily patrolling the area. Throughout the course of the evening, protesters moved through Beacon Hill, the North End and Charlestown.

The march found its way back to the Boston Common several hours later, where hundreds of protesters pushed down into the Park Street MBTA Station and blocked tracks. The MBTA halted Green Line service from North Station to Kenmore Square as protesters blocked tracks, with hands above their heads shouting, “Hands up, don’t shoot!” a chant that became well-known after the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri following the police shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown.

At approximately 10 p.m., chants calmed down as demonstrators began to give speeches and recite poetry. Those who spoke shared stories of family members and friends whom they lost to police brutality.

At least 10 protestors were arrested, according to The Boston Globe.

Several attendees of Thursday’s protests said relations between the police and the community needs to improve.

John Learner, 56, of Roxbury, said unity between police and the public is a step toward equality.

“The police have to form a better relationship with the community,” he said. “Right now, it’s us against them, and that’s absolutely not going to work.”

Cole Springate, 26, of South Boston, said the police don’t use force unless it is absolutely necessary.

“The use of force should be a last resort,” he said.

Julia Vacchiano, 19, a student at Emerson College, said recent cases of police brutality affect all citizens.

“The police needs to understand its power, because this is not only about racism. It’s about everyone,” she said. “The social media helped organize the events, and it’s important for people to understand that this battle is about equal opportunity for all.”

Joana Versil, 25, of the North End, said white people often lack the understanding of how the scope of their actions hinders progress.

“White people need to understand the impact that they are having and make changes about the way they behave,” she said. “A very harsh reality sparked by racism pervades this country, and no one is paying attention to it until these horrific incidences happen. I feel it is morally important to be here. This is a moral obligation to myself and the community.”

Berca Depestr, 20, of Dorchester, said the protest was successful in that it united people under a common cause.

“Coming together as one as you can see tonight shows the solidarity between everyone. Some people have even flown into Boston to attend the rally,” she said. “At the very beginning of the protest, they had a list of demands. Having constructive ideas and criticism will help open people’s eyes to the injustice we are feeling. I feel that as human beings, we deserve human rights, no matter what the race, skin or whatever the case may be.”

To see more from Thursday night’s protests, check out The Daily Free Press’ social media timeline. 

More Articles

This is an account occasionally used by the Daily Free Press editors for posts with multiple authors or otherwise for special circumstance publications. See authorship info on the byline at the top of the page.

2 Comments

  1. There is nothing written in the US constituion guaranteeing a “civil right” for young black males to steal, assault and disobey law enforcement. The only civil rights that were violated were those of Officer Wilson. This man’s life is now in shambles because he did his job. He can no longer work as a public servant, nor can he even show his face in public. Officer Wilson is portrayed as the bad guy, while the family of Michael Brown is shown on national TV encouraging destruction of the community with no public reprimand.
    The most disturbing and sad aspect of the whole situation is the ignorance of not just the black activists, but also the white liberals. Justice was served long before the grand jury made a decision. Michael Brown made the decision, not the grand jury. His parents should be outraged because their son was not the “gentle giant” they thought he was. Unfortunately, situations like this will surely happen again. It was a tragedy that a young man lost his life, but the real tragedy is the lack of common sense, morality and indivual accountability in the black community. The law was followed and a decision was made. Deal with it, move one and rise up against the thugs who are destroying our way of life, not those who are fighting to protect it.
    As for the protestors across the USA, where is the line drawn between making a point and causing criminal acts? Blocking highways and intersections to protest civil right violations causes gridlock, inconvenience and anger. Protesters are violating the rights of those who wish to travel freely. How is this acceptable? How does inconveniencing the general public help your cause? The level of ignorance surrounding this entire matter from day one is sickening and unbelievable. Protests such as those that we’ve seen are pointless and will only serve to work against those trying to affect change.
    Protesting will not solve the problem. We need parents to teach respect, morals and values to our children. We must teach our children to do the right thing, not to find fault with what is wrong. This is only a matter of race because black activists make it so. What if it had been a black officer and a white victim? What if it were an Asian or a Hispanic? Does it really matter? A crime was committed and a police officer who was sworn to protect and serve the community did his job. There is a system in place to ensure justice. The system worked. And now, for those who choose to use this as reason to cause violence and destruction, you too will find out how the justice system works when you are arrested and removed from society.

  2. Seriously, dude? “Justice was served long before the grand jury made a decision. Michael Brown made the decision, not the grand jury.” So you were there and saw the whole thing, right? I mean, you must have had a front row seat to the entire thing because otherwise you couldn’t possibly be SO VERY SURE of what happened and of whom to blame. It’s either that or you have an extraordinarily active imagination, or a crystal ball to see into the past, or, oh I don’t know, a pretty racist-looking axe to grind? I’m glad you’re so confident that law enforcement and the entire justice system are always completely fair and unbiased regardless of the race and ethnicity (among other things) of the citizen before them. That must help you sleep at night, Arafat. I wish I could get that kind of rest these days … and so do Michael Brown’s and Eric Garner’s and Tamir Rice’s devastated families, I’m sure.