Police tussle with counterprotesters near a “Free Speech” rally Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, in Boston. An estimated 15,000 counterprotesters marched through the city to historic Boston Common. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
August 19, 2017
OAN Newsroom
Officials call off a free speech rally in Boston as thousands of counter protesters descend onto the streets of the city.
A number of rally participants left the Boston Common ahead of the planned speeches Saturday and video shows police officers pushing back demonstrators.
Police ramped up security measures ahead of the rally in an effort to avoid a repeat of last week’s violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Officials say extra security cameras and barriers were installed in the area and hundreds of officers were deployed.
The city had also banned people from carrying weapons and backpacks.
