13 Arrested, 4 Officers Hurt in Pro-Palestinian Protest

Boston police arrested 13 people on Tuesday night after hundreds of pro-Palestinian agitators took to the streets, with several officers being injured. The incident took place on the second anniversary of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas' attack on Israel.

The police department said in a statement that around 6:46 pm, while responding to a nearby unrelated emergency, a group of between 200 to 300 people blocked Tremont Street near Winter Street and prevented police vehicles from passing. "Many protesters, wearing facial coverings and gloves, interlocked arms, chanted over amplified bullhorns, and refused to clear the roadway."

While police attempted to move the group out of the road to allow emergency vehicles to pass, agitators surrounded the police cruisers and kicked at their doors, and resisted efforts by police to disperse the crowd. Agitators ignited flares and smoke devices. Video taken at the scene showed multiple arrests as they took place.

Several officers were assaulted, including one who was struck in the face. Four officers were transported to local hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries. Officers reported having equipment damaged or forcibly removed, including bicycles, radios, body cameras, and other gear. Police engaged in crowd control measures to "restore order and effect lawful arrests."

Those arrested were: Osama Khatib, 26; Roder Atwood, 21; Atalanta Carrig-Braun, 20; Haley MacIntyre, 24; Madeline Weikel, 27; Jacob Pettigrew, 22; Amun Prophet, 25; Laith Hintzman, 19; Benjamin Choucroun, 20; Owen Woodcock, 26; Prahlad Iyengar, 25; Styx Hatch, 19; and Gabrielle Smith, 28.

Most of those arrested were charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and disturbing the peace. Atwood was hit with additional charges of interfering with a police officer, destruction of property, assault and battery on a police officer, and assault and battery resulting in serious bodily injury.

The rally and march were organized by various Students for Justice in Palestine groups based in the Boston area. A flyer for the event posted to social media stated, "Flood downtown for Palestine," and featured a burning police cruiser in front of multiple people with their faces covered by keffiyehs.

The post stated, "BOSTON, We are more powerful in our numbers together, standing against the abhorrent empire that is the United States and its 51st state of israel. The US war machine arms, funds, and protects every atrocity. Our fight is here, against the system that makes genocide, displacement, and starvation possible in these states of destruction.

If you haven’t shown up since October 9th, 2023, now, if never before, is the time. Two years of genocide means we do not sit back. 2 years of genocide means we fight like hell."

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement, "We are extremely grateful for the work of the Boston Police in keeping the city safe and in supporting the right to peacefully protest. Boston will not tolerate violence, and we categorically condemn those who came into our community to attack our police officers. The individuals who engaged in these attacks must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," per Fox News.