State Senator Eldridge Condemns white Supremacists’ March on Boston Streets over Fourth of July weekend
Calls on public officials, law enforcement, and prosecutors to directly confront racist movements, and classify the Patriot Front as a terrorist organization
July 6, 2022
Photo: ‘Patriot Front’ terrorists marched through Boston — Tweet from Bishop Talbert Swan @TalbertSwan
Boston, MA – Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) condemns the white supremacist Patriot Front group, and the racist movement’s march through downtown Boston streets on Saturday, July 2nd. The Patriot Front is an American white nationalist and neo-fascist hate group, which split off from the neo-Nazi organization Vanguard America during the aftermath of the Unite the Right rally in 2017. This session, Senator Eldridge has served as the Senate chair of the three structural racism commissions that were part of the 2020 police reform law, in addition to serving as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Judiciary. Eldridge issued the following statement:
“In the strongest terms possible, I condemn the actions of white supremacists who carried out an atrocious act of hate on Saturday, July 2. I am outraged by their extremely disturbing displays of extremism and hatred toward the Jewish community and communities of color. The white nationalist group has an alarming history in the region: the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has tracked more than 600 incidents involving the group since 2017, including weapon and assault charges in 2019. Given that the Patriot Front claims to have been involved with 141 incidents of activism in the Commonwealth this year alone, according to media reports, it seems clear that the Patriot Front plans to expand its roots in Massachusetts, connected to the Commonwealth’s history as the birthplace of America. Therefore, law enforcement, including the State Police and the Boston Police Department must be more vigilant in tracking and prosecuting the Patriot Front, and other white supremacist groups that are active in Massachusetts.”
“Police reports show that about 100 members – many carrying flags of the white supremacist group Patriot Front – marched Saturday, July 2, through downtown Boston’s streets. The group’s violent assault injured activist and street artist Charles Murrell, who was “shoved and pushed to the ground,” according to media reports. “The marchers continued to kick and hit him.” Yet somehow, Patriot Group members were allowed to leave the scene of this crime, and the city of Boston, without being arrested. Are the Massachusetts State Police and the BPD really taking white supremacist groups seriously?
“The marchers not only violated the safety and security of pedestrians that day but also insulted those who fought for the freedom and equality we all live to enjoy today. Marching on the historic freedom trail on the 4th of July weekend is a sickening move and a frontal assault on the independence we cherish and celebrate.
“The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Boston proudly represent themselves as the cradle of liberty, but our liberties are at risk of not being enjoyed by all when racist individuals and groups can parade around any community, intimidating and harming vulnerable residents, people of color, and underrepresented communities. Hate has no place in the Commonwealth and beyond, and we must call out and robustly renounce the alarming hatred in our communities.”
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