Thousands of protesters are expected to flood downtown Boston Saturday, with a pro-free speech rally on Boston Common likely surrounded by several different counter-actions.
Here are the times and locations of the main events:
When: Set-up starts at 10 a.m. according to the Facebook event, but the demonstration has a permit from noon to 2 p.m.
Where: Parkman Bandstand in Boston Common
Who: Boston Free Speech Coalition
What: This is the original event that gained notoriety following the violence in Charlottesville last weekend. Organizers have insisted their rally will be peaceful and not related to the white nationalists at the center of the violence in Charlottesville. But the Boston organizers have invited speakers from the “alt-right” movement, an offshoot of conservativism that combines racism, white nationalism, anti-Semitism, and populism. Organizers also said they invited a member from the Black Lives Matter movement to speak.
Fight Supremacy! Boston Counter-Protest & Resistance Rally:
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When and Where: Assembling by 10 a.m. at the Reggie Lewis center at 1350 Tremont Street and marching two miles into downtown to a point on Tremont St. near the location of the Free Speech rally.
Who: Violence In Boston, Angie Camacho, Monica Cannon, Black Lives Matter Network, Black Lives Matter Cambridge, and Black Lives Matter Boston
What: Over 11,000 people said they are attending this event on Facebook, which plans to oppose the “Free Speech Rally” just 0.2 miles away from its ending point in Boston Common. The event description says “white nationalists are emboldened by the current political administration and growing police state,” citing the events in Charlottesville and stating that “White Nationalists are converging on Boston Common.” Organizers have stressed that the event will be peaceful and volunteers are training in de-escalation techniques from Black Lives Matter representatives.
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When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon Street, Boston
Who: Coalition to Organize and Mobilize Boston Against Trump, Answer Coalition Boston,
Boston Party for Socialism and Liberation, and Boston Democratic Socialists of America
What: This counterprotest to the “Free Speech Rally” will remain in front of the State House and up the hill from the Free Speech group on the Boston. They are calling for the removal of “memorabilia of racism and white supremacy in Virginia & Boston,” dropping of charges against counterprotesters in Virginia and coverage of their medical expenses. They are also calling for an end to sanctions on North Korea and Venezuela. Organizers have also emphasized theirs is a peaceful protest.
Lauren Feiner can be reached at lauren.feiner@globe.com. Follow her @lauren_feiner.