The Democratic mayor of Boston, Michelle Wu, recently faced backlash for gathering a list of her critics and turning it over to law enforcement. 

Ricardo Patron, a Wu spokesman, said the list got compiled following a request from the Boston Police Department. This happened after the mayor was allegedly bullied and scared by several individuals for multiple months outside her house.

That transpired at city-sponsored events, like the neighborhood parks’ coffee hours that occur on a yearly basis, and other events held in public. 

The Wu administration’s revelation about the list it gathered came following Wu opponents’ discovery of the list in an email they were able to acquire via a public records request. 

The whole incident started during the Dorchester Day Parade that was held on June 5, 2022. Several individuals on the list allegedly disrupted the parade to harass Mayor Wu, her family, and staffers.

After the parade, Boston Police held a meeting with members of the Boston city staff on June 10 to craft a safety plan for the Bunker Hill Day parade on June 12. 

The Captain of the District presiding over Charlestown, at the time, requested a list of individuals who participated in the alleged disruption and harassment of the mayor.

Immediately following the meeting, the email was sent. 

The way the Wu administration tackled this issue raised questions about the Boston government’s commitment to free speech. Wu’s opponents believe she is using her position of power to silence any form of opposition to her government.

The list was in an email from Wu’s previous Director of Constituent Services Dave Vittorini and sent to Boston Police Captain Robert Ciccolo.

The list contained the names of Wu’s most prominent opponents, such as different activists opposing mandatory vaccination who protested in front of Wu’s house and various restaurant owners who opposed Wu’s policies.

Wu was elected in 2021 and became the first Asian American to hold the position of mayor in Boston history.