President Trump tweeted words of support for Boston city officials amid thousands of protesters of all stripes flocking to the city’s downtown.
“Looks like many anti-police agitators in Boston,” Trump tweeted without explaining what he was looking at. “Police are looking tough and smart! Thank you.”
Looks like many anti-police agitators in Boston. Police are looking tough and smart! Thank you.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2017
Trump followed his message with another tweet lauding Boston’s mayor and other law enforcement officials.
Great job by all law enforcement officers and Boston Mayor @Marty_Walsh.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2017
The competing demonstrations Saturday come one week after violence in Charlottesville, Va., which began with a protest over the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue, where white supremacy and neo-Nazi groups clashed with left-wing counter-protesters.
Police in Boston estimated the size of Saturday’s protests to include 30,000 to 40,000 participants, according to the Boston Globe, including 20 people that the Globe said were arrested amid sudden skirmishes. The people gathered in Boston reportedly included alt-right activists, Black Lives Matter supporters, activists resisting Trump, and others promoting free speech.
Trump later tweeted again about Boston, this time applauding “the many protestors in Boston who are speaking out against bigotry and hate.”
I want to applaud the many protestors in Boston who are speaking out against bigotry and hate. Our country will soon come together as one!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2017
Aerial view shows large crowd of counter-demonstrators marching through Boston ahead of planned “free speech” rally. https://t.co/30EmFLxYZU pic.twitter.com/RKpELfYccS
— ABC News (@ABC) August 19, 2017
The demonstrations had been planned to take part in Boston Common Park in downtown Boston.
