Violent Pro-Palestinian Oct. 7 Protest Leaves Four Boston Officers Hospitalized

Four Boston police officers were injured and 13 people were arrested Tuesday night after a pro-Palestinian protest turned violent, officials said.

Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets on the anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack, blocking traffic and preventing emergency vehicles from passing, the Boston Police Department (BPD) said in a Wednesday statement. When officers attempted to move the crowd onto the sidewalk, protesters surrounded police cruisers, kicked vehicle doors, and resisted dispersal efforts.

Protesters also ignited smoke devices and flares, and officers reported that equipment, including body cameras, radios, bicycles, and other gear, was damaged or forcibly removed according to police. Several officers were assaulted, including one who was struck in the face, and four were transported to the hospital. The police union and other outlets, including The Berkeley Beacon, shared stark images and video of the chaos.

“Another night of violence against police in Boston. Our officers were attacked, assaulted and sent to the hospital with injuries,” Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association President Larry Calderone said in a statement on X. “Completely despicable and totally unacceptable. It’s happening far too often with no repercussions.”