Leaders in South Boston are working with the MBTA to not have another St. Patrick’s Day parade like the one last year spoiled by a neo-Nazi demonstration.
“It is important to be proactive to ensure the parade is safe and inclusive for everyone,” said state Sen. Nick Collins of South Boston, in a statement. “Those violating the law by defacing public property to spread their hateful message should be held accountable.”
Collins joins Congressman Stephen Lynch, state Rep. David Biele, City Council President Ed Flynn and Councilor Michael Flaherty in reaching out to MBTA Transit Police Chief Kenneth Green to organize a planning session to prevent hate groups from targeting the March 19 parade, according to a statement. The statement says there was such a meeting ahead of last year’s event as well.
“The Transit Police is committed to ensuring all individuals coming into the St. Patricks’ Day Parade via the MBTA feel safe and are free from any form of intimidation and harassment,” Transit Police Superintendent Richard Sullivan, the agency’s chief spokesman, said in a statement.
“We are grateful for the long standing collaborative relationship we share with the electeds who represent the South Boston community and we look forward to working with them. The TPD will have an enhanced security plan surrounding this family-oriented event honoring tradition and service,” he continued.
Last year, members of the group Nationalist Social Club, also known as NSC-131, set up along the parade route in face masks, sporting matching outfits of khaki pants and green hooded sweatshirts, and unfurled a banner that said “Keep Boston Irish.”
The group has been identified by the Anti-Defamation League as a New England-based neo-Nazi group with small chapters based around the region.
The Evacuation Day and St. Patrick’s Day parade attracts around a million people every year.
The same group also protested at a public drag queen story hour for children and families in Jamaica Plain, a situation that compelled Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden to appoint two additional prosecutors to the civil rights unit in July 2022.
That July also saw the seemingly spontaneous demonstration downtown of about 100 marchers belonging to the white nationalist group the Patriot Front.
Mayor Michelle Wu’s office said in a statement, “Our office is working with the Boston Police Department to ensure the St. Patrick’s Day parade is a safe and welcoming event for all residents and visitors. Boston will not tolerate hate, and we will not be intimidated in our work to build a city for everyone.”
