Black community leaders in Boston are marking the Fourth of July by responding to white racists who marched through Boston two days ago.
Members of the group, identified by police as the Patriotic Front, marched through the city Saturday with their faces hidden wearing shirts emblazoned with the words “Take Back America.”
The Anti-Defamation League, which tracks hate groups across the country, has called the Patriotic Front a white supremacist group that spreads racism, anti-Semitism and other forms of hate online. The ADL says the group is focused on “preserving America’s identity as European-American.”
Police say a black man reported he was assaulted during the march after the man said he was trying to record the group on his cell phone. In the police report provided to ABC News by Boston Police Department officials, the man says members of the Patriotic Front with shields began surrounding and shoving him after he started recording.
Thomas Russo, founder and leader of the white nationalist group Patriotic Front, along with other supporters march during the Fourth of July holiday weekend in Malden, Massachusetts, July 2, 2022.
Obtained from Reuters
When he tried to push away to free himself, he was knocked to the ground, kicked and beaten, the police report said.
The man suffered lacerations to his head, arms and hands and was treated at a nearby hospital, according to the report. No arrests have been made.
The man was later identified as Charles Murrell, an artist and social justice activist. He spoke Monday at a gathering of black leaders and urged listeners to attend local events on race, diversity and justice.
“There are ambassadors, artists and people who care about the city and the image of this city, who are doing the work, and we invite you to come share space with us,” Murrell said.
Mawakana Onifade, Murrell’s friend and mentor, said: “We will always stand against the face of the new clan, there is no mistake about that. When someone covers their face, we know what’s behind it.”
Local black leaders called the Patriotic Front “the children of the KKK.”
“We are not surprised. Boston has a long legacy of racism,” said the Rev. Kevin Peterson. “In fact, the city was founded on racism. Slaves were imported here. And that legacy continues until 2022.”
Leaders are calling on Mayor Michelle Wu to act quickly against the spread of hateful and dangerous ideologies.
“We cannot look at this as the new age. This is the old age that must be destroyed,” Onifade said. “Mayor Wu, what are you really going to do besides the words we read about. What is the call to action? Where is the responsibility?’
Supporters of the white nationalist group Patriotic Front march during the Fourth of July holiday weekend in Malden, Massachusetts, July 2, 2022.
Obtained from Reuters
Wu condemned the march, writing on Twitter that “disgusting white racist hatred has no place here.”
In a statement, Boston City Councilman Ed Flynn warned of growing white supremacist sentiment in the region.
“It is utterly repulsive to once again read reports and see videos on social media of dozens of neo-Nazis making yet another brazen public display of their hateful ideology,” Flynn wrote. “They continued to make their presence known, most recently in March at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Patrick,” when members of the Patriotic Front reportedly held up a “Keep Irish Boston” banner.
Wu said the investigation into the latest incident is ongoing and is being led by the city’s Civil Rights Division, according to Boston ABC affiliate WCVB-TV.
“We are investigating their identity and information has already been shared in various quarters about the national leaders of this group who have been part of this effort, who have been in the city, have attended recent events as this group has gone into terrorizing and other communities Wu said.
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