Seven individuals have been charged with inciting a riot following a pro-Palestinian rally in Boston that escalated into violence on October 9, 2023. The protesters were arraigned on October 12 at Boston Municipal Court, where the judge imposed substantial bail amounts, reflecting the seriousness of the allegations against them.
The rally commenced at Boston Common and, according to prosecutors, quickly moved into the streets, disrupting traffic and obstructing emergency vehicles. Prosecutor Olivia Izzi stated that the protesters engaged in physical confrontations with police officers, resulting in injuries to four officers. Another protester, identified as Tufts University student Roder Atwood, was arraigned separately on charges of assaulting an officer, reportedly breaking the officer’s nose.
Details of the Arraignment
The individuals arraigned on October 12 included:
– Atalanta Carrig-Braun, 20, of Boston
– Osama El Khatib, 26, of Watertown
– Styx Hatch, 19, of Boston
– Haley MacIntyre, 24, of Dorchester
– Jacob Pettigrew, 22, of Malden
– Gabrielle Smith, 28, of Cambridge
– Madeline Weikel, 27, of Watertown
All seven face charges of inciting a riot, along with additional allegations that include assault and battery on a police officer and interfering with a police officer. Bail amounts for the defendants were set between $5,000 and $10,000, exceeding the prosecution’s initial recommendations. The judge also imposed restrictions, prohibiting the protesters from returning to Boston Common and the Public Garden.
Response from Law Enforcement
The president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, Larry Calderone, expressed approval of the court’s decision to set high bail amounts. He emphasized the growing concern regarding violence against law enforcement, stating, “If an individual on the street thinks nothing of punching a police officer in the face and assaulting that officer in full uniform, then what does that mean for the general public?”
The courtroom during the arraignment was filled with both law enforcement officials and supporters of the protesters. Following the proceedings, supporters conducted a demonstration in the courthouse hallway, advocating for the accused.
All seven protesters are scheduled to return to court on October 31, 2023, for pretrial hearings, where further developments in the case are expected. The incident has highlighted the tensions surrounding protests related to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the challenges law enforcement faces during large public demonstrations.
