Democratic leaders in Massachusetts took pains to disavow blame for the violent and destructive road riot in the country’s “safest major city” over the weekend, portraying it as an outsider fueled event.
Only two out of the more than 100 who gathered for the street takeover in Boston’s South End early Sunday morning were arrested – two teens from Rhode Island – but it’s absurd to believe no one in the crowd was from Massachusetts.
Dozens of people were shooting off fireworks and throwing objects like poles and cones at police during the Internet-driven blockage of the streets, setting a police cruiser on fire and destroying it.
Yet only two people were arrested? Not exactly an overwhelming police response.
Both Boston Mayor Michelle Wu – who has repeatedly touted Boston’s safety – and Gov. Maura Healey had an obviously coordinated response to seize the narrative and make it sound like only outsiders – not Bostonians or Massachusetts residents – were the ones doing the damage.
“Let me be perfectly clear. Anyone who targets police and destroys police property – or who comes to Massachusetts and engages in dangerous and destructive conduct – should be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” Healey said.
So Bostonians should not be punished? By the way, if you hear a politician say, “let me be perfectly clear,” beware: they are not actually being transparent.
“Do not come into Boston to disrespect our community and cause harm and disorder,” Wu said. “These outside groups are not welcome to come and treat our city this way. We will hold those individuals accountable.”
Police vowed to arrest “those folks” who may have been responsible for the acts of violence, but why weren’t more people rounded up at the time?
“This is not to be tolerated and we are going to do all we can to hold those folks accountable,” Police Commissioner Michael Cox said. “We’re going to get every video and every bit of evidence to find every individual involved.”
Sure, and if they are Massachusetts residents, we’ll let them go, because that would discredit the false narrative that Wu and Healey were trying to perpetrate.
Officials said the street takeover was part of a “staged attack” on Massachusetts Ave. and Tremont Street through spreading the word on social media and group messages.
“These street takeovers are not spontaneous events but are pre-planned and coordinated through social media platforms and group messaging applications. Participants share meeting points, times and driving routes in advance to allow large numbers to join intersections before police arrive,” prosecutor Lisa Deacutis said.
Police arrested William Cantwell, 19, of West Warwick, R.I. and Julian Bowers, 18, of Cumberland, R.I. after they were seen hurling objects at police officers and the police car. Cantwell was released on Monday after posting $1,000 bail and Bowers was released on $500 bail.
Prosecutors had asked for a higher bail but a judge set the lower amounts.
“(The) assault on the men and women of the Boston Police Department in the South End/Roxbury must be prosecuted,” City Councilor Ed Flynn said in a statement. “If convicted, a state sentence is warranted. We can’t accept the ongoing lawlessness in Boston.”
Police said there were similar staged events in Randolph and Middleborough. State police said 50 cars were part of a gathering in a parking lot near Route 28.
“This was a staged event where they closed off certain sectors of neighborhoods and streets,” Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association President Larry Calderone said. “In our opinion, they lure police into a gauntlet and then attack them. There is no tolerance in the city of Boston for that.”
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