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A counter-protester, part of a small group who remained on the street hours after a "Free Speech" rally was staged by conservative activists, Michael Dwyer/PA

Multiple arrests as thousands join anti-racism march in Boston

Just dozens of people turned out for the official right-wing event.

THOUSANDS OF ANTI-racism demonstrators flooded the streets of Boston yesterday, dwarfing a gathering of white nationalists in the city and triggering scuffles with police but avoiding the serious violence that marred a similar event a week earlier in Virginia.

A so-called “free speech” rally by far-right groups had been scheduled to run until 2pm (7pm Irish time), but a half-hour before that police escorted its participants, whose numbers appeared to be in the dozens, to safety past a throng of anti-racism protesters.

Officials estimated turnout of about 40,000 demonstrators. Authorities said there were 27 arrests, mostly for assault and battery against the police, and disorderly conduct.

Aerial photos showed counter-protesters filling one of Boston’s main streets for several blocks, in a huge outpouring of anti-racist sentiment in this strongly Democratic northeastern city.

While Boston saw no repeat of the violence that erupted last weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia, isolated scuffles between police and protesters prompted President Donald Trump to weigh in, with a tweet intoning against the “many anti-police agitators in Boston”.

But as protesters began departing central Boston without major incident later, he followed up with a more positive tone.

“I want to applaud the many protestors in Boston who are speaking out against bigotry and hate,” he tweeted.

“Our country will soon come together as one!”

Boston Police Commissioner William Evans told a press conference that while there were people “who came here to cause problems”, authorities were able to maintain order and keep the two sides apart. He credited a unit specially trained for crowd control.

“I thought they did a good job of moving that crowd,” Evans said. “Sometimes it doesn’t look pretty, but that’s what they’re trained for.”

The demonstration was held at a time of anguished national debate over racial relations, which was fanned when Trump defended some participants in last week’s white nationalist and neo-Nazi rally in Virginia as “very fine people”.

Race Rallies Boston Counter-protesters clash with police following a Free Speech rally staged by conservative activists on Boston Common. AP / PA Images AP / PA Images / PA Images

Trump’s daughter Ivanka, who is Jewish, tweeted on Saturday night: “It was beautiful to see thousands of people across the USA come together today to peacefully denounce bigotry, racism & anti-Semitism. We must continue to come together, united as Americans!”

‘Racists out!’

Thousands of counter-protesters had convened in two groups before the main rally in Boston, chanting “No Nazis, no KKK, no fascists in the USA!” One man held a sign that read, “Stop pretending your racism is patriotism,” and a woman’s sign said, “Muslims welcome, racists out.”

“It’s time to do something,” said Katie Zipps, who traveled from Malden, north of Boston, for the counter-demonstrations, organized by an amalgam of mostly left-leaning groups.

“We are out here to add an extra body to add to the numbers of those who resist.”

Some local restaurants promised to donate their proceeds from Saturday to left-leaning groups, and others refused to serve the white nationalists, with one posting a sign that said: “Hope you Nazis packed a lunch.”

Authorities in Boston had protectively ordered a strict ban on weapons in the rally area, and ordered garbage trucks and concrete barriers placed around the venue to prevent vehicles from entering.

According to an AFP photographer at the scene, police in riot gear prevented counter-protesters from reaching the venue of the white nationalist rally – leading some to accuse police of defending “Nazis”.

Crowds booed or harassed “free speech” demonstrators as they walked to or from the venue, while Boston police tweeted that rocks had been thrown at its officers.

Race Rallies Boston Police try to calm an injured man who was assaulted while arguing with counter-protesters. Michael Dwyer / PA Michael Dwyer / PA / PA

A young woman was killed last weekend when an avowed white supremacist rammed his car into a group of counter-protesters in Charlottesville and President Trump’s muted response to the violence has plunged his embattled administration deeper into disarray.

Despite the skirmishes Saturday, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh had words of praise at day’s end for the city’s police, and even for the protesters.

“I want to thank all the people that came out today,” the Democratic mayor said at the press conference.

I want to thank all the people that came out to share that message of love, not hate. To fight back on racism. To fight back on anti-Semitism. To fight back on the white supremacists that were coming to our city – the Nazis coming to our city.

The protest was one of several scheduled to take place across the United States this weekend.

An evening demonstration in Dallas, Texas drew about 2,500 people, mostly protesters rallying against racism and calling for the removal of memorials to leaders of the pro-slavery Confederacy during the US Civil War.

Though there were some confrontations, there were no arrests or injuries, the Dallas Morning News reported.

And in Atlanta, about 2,000 people marched peacefully from downtown to the tomb of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

© AFP, 2017

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    Mute Joe Caulfield
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:02 AM

    So its official. The left is opposed to free speech.

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    Mute Mel Fitzpatrick
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:07 AM

    @Joe Caulfield: No they are opposed to white supremacist nazi thugs … There’s quite a difference. Look it up and educate yourself

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:13 AM

    @Joe Caulfield: weren’t they exercising their right to free speech? Isn’t that what the event was about?

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    Mute Ben McArthur
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:26 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: And the counter protesters- most of them – were responding in exactly the right way, by exercising theirs.

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    Mute Joe Caulfield
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:33 AM

    @Mel Fitzpatrick: No they where physically trying to stop someone from exercising their 1st amendment rights.

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    Mute Shanners
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:40 AM

    @Joe Caulfield: cannot tolerate intolerance. Nazism is not OK. Simple as. It does not deserve a voice.

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    Mute Joe Caulfield
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:46 AM

    @Shanners: The only nazis in Boston yesterday where the counter protesters of the left.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:49 AM

    @Joe Caulfield: you clearly felt out of the stupid tree as a child and hit every branch on the way down. The “free speech” rally was attended by people who literally refer to themselves as nazis.

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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:49 AM

    @Ben McArthur: that’s who I was talking about

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    Mute Jonny
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    Aug 20th 2017, 9:17 AM

    @Mel Fitzpatrick: You must be a great “educated” mind (arrogant cow). As for the word racist, we are all to aware, at this stage, that that word is used by those who perceive themselves to be morally superior, as a means to shut down debate & opposition.

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    Mute Joe Caulfield
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    Aug 20th 2017, 9:22 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: Nice try Dave. The irony is that the counter protesters proved the point being made by the organizer’s of the free speech rally .

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 9:23 AM

    @Jonny: how does being called a racist stop someone from talking? I’ve never understood quite how that works, maybe you could explain it. Also, can you explain, if you believe it to be true, how calling white supremacists, nazis and the KKK racist is unfair?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 9:39 AM

    @Joe Caulfield: do both sides not have the same rights to free speech? Or are you trying to say that one sides right supercedes that of the other?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 9:41 AM

    @Jonny: also, you were the first to mention racist in this comment thread

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    Mute Joe Caulfield
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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:03 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: No one has the right to infringe upon someone else’s rights.

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    Mute Hakaman
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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:07 AM

    @Joe Caulfield: so 0.075% (30 arrests out of 40,000) of the protest against fascism & racism were arrested, and you’re basing your argument on that group? Dear me, not a statistically sound ground for your argument there Joe.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:08 AM

    @Joe Caulfield: what right was infringed upon? They could speak all they wanted.

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    Mute Mairtin Antaine O Conaill
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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:24 AM

    @Joe Caulfield: yes but god help poor Donald if he criticises these people because in the eyes of the media they’ve done nothing wrong. Even though they turned violent and attacked police.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:31 AM

    @Mairtin Antaine O Conaill: violent and aggressive behaviour is not to be tolerated from anyone but the police themselves have said that the people that attacked them represented neither side.

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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:34 AM

    @Joe Caulfield: The right, using ‘Free Speech’ as a cover for their real intentions was pretty clever Joe and shows how clever they are with lies.

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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:37 AM

    @Joe Caulfield: Does hate/bigotry/racism etc., deserve a voice and would you be one of these people listed or all?

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    Mute Joe Caulfield
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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:42 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: Freedom of assembly/speech.

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    Mute Michael Geraghty
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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:48 AM

    @Stephen murphy: does fascism deserve a platform? That’s how the left are operating these days.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 11:07 AM

    @Joe Caulfield: did they not assemble? Did they not speak?

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    Aug 20th 2017, 11:14 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: Yes it’s called the 1st amendment Dave. Only for the Boston Police . The counter protesters marched against free speech.

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    Aug 20th 2017, 11:23 AM

    @Joe Caulfield: so, the event happened, and as it was open to both sides you’re upset because other people also used their right to assembly and free speech? Yes the violence is not OK but that was a tiny percentage, any violence is unacceptable. The vast majority of the 40,000 people that showed up were there to exercise their right to free speech

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    Mute Warthog
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    Aug 20th 2017, 11:35 AM

    @Joe Caulfield: You were not saying that last week now were you. Hypocrite

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    Aug 20th 2017, 11:39 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: No Dave they where there to oppose a free speech rally. If they support free speech they would have joined the rally for it not the protest against it.

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    Aug 20th 2017, 11:49 AM

    @Joe Caulfield: they were exercising their own right to free speech in opposition to a rally organised by those involved in the Charlottesville madness

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    Aug 20th 2017, 12:01 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: That was last week Dave. Charlottesville is not a suburb of Boston.

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    Aug 20th 2017, 12:06 PM

    @Joe Caulfield: a whole week ago, wow! Again, yesterday’s march was organised by the same people. Who in their right mind wouldn’t protest a repeat performance?

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    Mute Lucy
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    Aug 20th 2017, 3:21 PM

    @Joe Caulfield: In fairness “free speech” can’t be two important to the right judging by the pathetic turn out for the march… Or could it be that even right don’t want to be associated with Nazis…

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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    Aug 20th 2017, 3:31 PM

    Joe is struggling big time on here.Now myself & Warthog, we don’t agree on much,but even he can see that Joe is talking absolute nonsense.People have a right to come out in their droves and tell those people that they are not welcome in their City…And they did .

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    Mute Milo O' Rourke
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    Aug 22nd 2017, 3:13 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: But it’s not what it turned into in Charlottesville. American’s have been legally punching Nazis since 1941. Why is it only illegal when you begin to agree with them?

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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:09 AM

    I read in a different article that the organizers of the march specifically banned the likes of the KKK and neo-Nazi parties from the march. The march was specifically about the right to free speech for all so long as that didn’t activly encourage violence or hatred. Unfortunately the Antifa loopers don’t want that and want to crush any free speech or dissent that doesn’t conform with their play book.

    People are going to spend so much time trying to outlaw the right wing morons that they won’t see the growing menace that is the altLeft springing up and taking over where the white supremacists left off. Both sides are as bad as each other but at the moment only one side, the alt-right, is being demonized.

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    Mute John003
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:21 AM

    Seems to be similiar to the Drumcree marches in Northern Ireland….Important thing is that the police keep both sides apart….These marches seem to be weekly events now in the US…..At least in NI they are only once per year….

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    Mute John Campbell
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:39 AM

    @Brian Ward: I agree entirely Brian. Harassment and hate filled speech protesting against alleged fascism puts everyone in the same category. Sadly it’s a typical race to the bottom and moderate thinking people should wake up to what is happening .

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:52 AM

    @Brian Ward: care to tell us who was lined up to speak yesterday? You know, considering what you’ve said they definitely wouldn’t be in any way linked to nazis, the kkk or white supremacy. So just tell us who they were.

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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Aug 20th 2017, 9:30 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: “Kyle Chapman, Joe Biggs, US Senate candidate Shiva Ayyadurai and congressional candidate Samson Racioppi were to speak.”
    http://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/19/us/boston-free-speech-rally/index.html

    Here is the full list. https://www.facebook.com/BostonFreeSpeech/photos/a.1699074217059442.1073741828.1699070680393129/1747652628868267/?type=3

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    Mute Chris M.
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    Aug 20th 2017, 9:45 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: it is irrelevant who was supposed to speak as even neo nazis have a constitutionally protected right to free speech and assembly. I know that upsets neo fascists like yourself.

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    Aug 20th 2017, 9:55 AM

    @Chris M.: I don’t mind people speaking at all. I just reserve my right to speak over them. My question was about the speakers a d organisers as it was mentioned that supremacists, nationalist and nazis were banned. Even though the event was organised by supremacists, nationalists and nazis. I was pointing out a lie.

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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:01 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: Which of those speakers is a Nazi or a supremacist? Can you point out where I lied?

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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:07 AM

    @Brian Ward: the list that were initially invited and announced but didn’t show up say a lot really, Gavin McIness for example. Joe Biggs is a right wing extremist.

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    Mute Pounamustone
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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:12 AM

    @Brian Ward: “is that you Donald?”

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    Mute Chris M.
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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:23 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: so what you’re saying Dave is that no nazis were at the rally and tacitly admitting the violent alt-left actually protested an authentic free speech rally.

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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:31 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: I don’t suppose you have that supposed list?

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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:36 AM

    @Brian Ward: I’ve already mentioned Gavin McIness. Who himself helped to organise the event. No comment from you in Joe Biggs? He was one of the speakers yesterday. http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/08/17/speakers-list-for-boston-free-speech-rally-include-right-wing-extremist/6xWnzHZwrjq8svoRbPN1NP/story.html

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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:51 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: YOu made a very specific statement that ” the event was organised by supremacists, nationalists and nazis.” I asked you to point out these very people yet all you can come up with is a co called “extremist” which is a llot different from what you were spouting on about.

    So I will ask you again. Who was supposed to speak at the event and show me the list. Can you point out the KKK, neo-nazi and white supremacists that were supposed to speak. You asked me to provide a list of speakers to back up my post so I think that you should do the same.

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    Mute Chris M.
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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:52 AM

    It appears you’re the one doing the lying here Dave.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 11:19 AM

    @Brian Ward: Gavin McIness was an organiser and was due to speak. You’ve just ignored it every time I mentioned him. Ignore it all you want but he was an organiser and was due to speak. “I don’t want our culture diluted.”

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    Mute Remy
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    Aug 20th 2017, 11:19 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe:

    “Joe Biggs is a right wing extremist”

    Ehhh, Joe Biggs is a US Army Retired Staff Sergeant who is a Political Correspondent and Independent, investigative Journalist out of Austin, Texas, who has shown your Antifa up for what they are, Fascists.

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    Mute Chris M.
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    Aug 20th 2017, 11:24 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: Gavin McInnes is not a Nazi.

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    Aug 20th 2017, 11:33 AM

    @Remy: you left out the infowars and pizzagate parts, lying by omission as usual

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 11:35 AM

    @Chris M.: he is a white supremacist.

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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Aug 20th 2017, 11:44 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: You accuse me of ignoring Gavin McInnes (who helped organize the event) as a means of deflecting away from the specific question of who is it that you accuse of being a neoNazi or KK white supremacist that helped organize the event.

    Lets face it, you have been called out on your accusations, have been shown up as being deficient in being able to back up your accusations so why not just admit that you haven’t a clue what you (and the altLeft) are on about. There were no KKK, Nazis or white supremacists at that event, only Leftist, AntiFa thugs that threw rocks and urine at the police.

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    Aug 20th 2017, 11:53 AM

    @Brian Ward: wow you mentioned the name, you still haven’t answered the McIness question though.

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    Aug 20th 2017, 12:02 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: also, I absolutely agree that violence is deplorable on any side.

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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Aug 20th 2017, 12:08 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: You didn’t ask any question about MnInnes, all you have done is avoid answering the very clear question of who specifically is a Nazi or KKK member or white supremacist? I can only assume that you can’t answer those questions and are now trying to bluster and BS your way out of it. It’s OK though as anyone reading these posts will see which one of us backed up his arguments to prove their point and the other just ran around in circles blowing out hot air. A bit like the 40,000 other clowns that turned up to protest at a gathering of people who advocate freedom of speech and then threw rocks and urine at the cops.

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    Aug 20th 2017, 12:12 PM

    @Brian Ward: “can you show me the KKK, neo-nazi and white supremacist that were supposed to speak.” Gavin McIness. Ive provided you the link to the fact that this white supremacist was supposed to speak but you keep ignoring it because it doesn’t match with your statements about the event.

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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    Aug 20th 2017, 12:51 PM

    @Brian Ward: Poor nazis :’(. Can’t be bigots in public anymore without being called on it.

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    Mute Clon Lad
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    Aug 20th 2017, 6:43 PM

    @DaisyChainsaw: They’re now losing their jobs too..

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    Mute Gary Rowe
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    Aug 21st 2017, 7:56 AM

    @Remy: Just as an FYI, you can be all of the things you say Joe Biggs is and still be an extremist.

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    Aug 20th 2017, 9:40 AM

    Antifa, regressive left freaks who are opposed to free speech, the irony “peace through violence”… Couldn’t box their way out of a wet paper bag.
    On the confederate statue issue,how come over the 8 years that Obama was president, was there no calls or attempts to remove these statues?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:10 AM

    @Remy: idiot, the calls didn’t start in January, it started when Dylann Roof, a white supremacist, walked into a black church on Calhoun Street and opened fire.

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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:33 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe:

    Hmmm… Where do I say they started in January? Putting yer foot in it AGAIN.

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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:40 AM

    @Remy: you said there were no calls to remove them during Obama’s presidency(which means you think they started after), I pointed out that Dylann Roof started the calls during Obama’s presidency.

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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:44 AM

    @Remy: You said “when Obama was president”. That would have been up to January 21st. So, while you technically didn’t say January, by talking about Obama’s presidential service, you implied it.

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    Aug 20th 2017, 12:25 PM

    @Remy:
    a bit of an idiot are you? are you trying to say that the Obama administration should have foreseen that a d1ckhead would murder people which in turn would have brought these issues to the fore?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 1:34 PM

    @izzy skint: can you provide a link that says he was a member of BLM and not just someone using it as an opportunity? Don’t forget to check if the investigation agrees with you

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    Mute lavbeer
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    Aug 20th 2017, 2:11 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: ffs don’t start looking for membership cards. If you organise a demo and someone arrives and does damage then you are responsible.

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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    Aug 20th 2017, 2:20 PM

    @izzy skint: You will be waiting as BLM had nothing whatsoever to do with that individual.Do you actually not look up stuff on purpose ?

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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    Aug 20th 2017, 2:24 PM

    @lavbeer: So if a guy is shot at a Dublin parade then that makes it the organisers of the parades fault..Okey dokey!

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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    Aug 20th 2017, 5:09 PM

    @izzy skint: Was he a member of the BLM leadership >yes or no? You can take your time pet.

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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    Aug 20th 2017, 5:14 PM

    @izzy skint: “the vast majority of violence in America is from the left/antifa ”
    Could you put up your source for that ?

    PS : Don’t want to see one that was pulled from your left buttocks :-)

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:37 PM

    @izzy skint: up to 6,000 right wing protesters in Charlottesville, 1 dead, up to 40,000 2in Boston, 0 dead, which is more dangerous?

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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    Aug 20th 2017, 9:26 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: There was 33 arrested in Boston on Saturday out of a total of 40,000 people.And as the police commissioner has already said,these people had nothing to do with the counter protesters..A fun fact :there was 37 arrested the night that the Boston Sox won the World Series in 2004 :-)

    8 Arrested for SERIOUS CRIMES :

    1) Zhen Xie, 33, Malden, Assault & Battery on a Police Officer and Resisting Arrest)
    2) Shawn Vieira, 25, Boston, Disturbing the Peace and Unlawfully Carrying a Dangerous Weapon (Knife)
    3) Mohammed Eldeb, 23, Somerville, Assault & Battery on a Police Officer and Resisting Arrest
    4) 15-year-old female from Cambridge, Delinquent to wit Assault & Battery by Means of Dangerous Weapon (2 counts), Delinquent to wit Disorderly Conduct
    5) Nathan Mizrahi, 38, Norwich, NY, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition
    6) Roberto Bonila, 20, Chelsea, Assault & Battery by Means of Dangerous Weapon (Knife)
    7) Adan Daroba, 22, Boston, Assault & Battery
    8) Shaun Petty, 33, Taunton, Assault & Battery by Means of Dangerous Weapon (Knife), Assault & Battery on a Police Officer and Resisting Arrest

    25 arrested for MINOR OFFENCES :

    Trevor Carey, 24, Shewsbury, Disorderly Conduct
    Devante Phillips, 25, Dorchester, Disturbing a Public Assembly
    Matthew Krinscherff, 25, Brookline, Disturbing a Public Assembly
    Delroy Richardson, 25, Brockton, Disturbing the Peace and Resisting Arrest
    Thomas Ensley, 36, Vermont, Disturbing a Public Assembly, Resisting Arrest Person and Disorderly Conduct
    Joshua Jenkins, 31, Plymouth, Disturbing a Public Assembly, Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct
    Marlon McCalister, 30, Brookline, Disturbing a Public Assembly and Resisting Arrest
    Ayesha Kazmi, 40, Boston, Disturbing a Public Assembly, Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct
    Victoria Mallada, 24, Fitchburg, Disturbing a Public Assembly, Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct
    Kimberly Carlisle, 39, Boston, Disturbing A Public Assembly, Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct
    Antwane Strickland, 26, Revere, Disturbing a Public Assembly
    Tony Massey, 42, Boston, Disturbing a Public Assembly, Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct
    John Lari, 25, Eugene, OR, Disturbing a Public Assembly, Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct
    Edson Dasilva, 28, Quincy, Disturbing a Public Assembly, Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest
    Timothy Thorley, 32, Weymouth, Disorderly Conduct and Affray
    Casey Gonzalez, 30, Lowell, Disorderly Conduct and Affray
    Solomon Clarke, 19, Boston, Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing Public Assembly and Resisting Arrest
    Ashla Munroe, 24, South Dennis, Affray
    Chase Kroll, 37, Somerville, Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing Public Assembly and Resisting Arrest
    Derek Hanlon, 25, Boston, Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing Public Assembly and Resisting Arrest
    Siron Cromwell-Harrison, 23, Chelsea, Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing Public Assembly and Resisting Arrest
    William Papagianopoulos, 30, Burlington, Disturbing the Peace
    James Kelley, 39, Dorchester, Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing Public Assembly and Resisting Arrest
    Patrick Richardi, 46, Miami, FL, Drinking Alcohol in Public
    Mark Szczwsuil, 50, Tewksbury, Trespassing

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 21st 2017, 1:13 AM

    @izzy skint: I support Manchester United, doesn’t mean are to blame for my actions. Why are you so willing to blame people that had nothing to do with him?

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    Mute Damocles
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:22 AM

    Has anyone asked why young white American men are being easily radicalised by online Neo Nazis?

    It might be an issue worth investigating.

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    Mute Ben McArthur
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:38 AM

    @Damocles: Well firstly it’s not clear that many are. C’ville mass rally turned out 1500, only some of which were actual neo Nazi. The SPLC estimates 5000-8000 members of the KKK nationally, compared to 4 million in the 1920s. That’s a small number, comparable to dissident republicans here as a proportion.

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    Mute Ben McArthur
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:45 AM

    More broadly, identity politics made angry young white men inevitable. It’s insane to say that every demographic group but one has its own special place, and not expect the group that’s left out to feel left out. When you designate that group as oppressors who must be pushed back on at every opportunity, a backlash is unavoidable. The more stupid ones will express that as white supremacy.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:53 AM

    @Ben McArthur: police estimates for Charlottesville were up to 6000

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    Mute lavbeer
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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:49 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: that was including the count demo?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 11:43 AM

    @lavbeer: so the counter demo was five times bigger?

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    Mute DaisyChainsaw
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    Aug 20th 2017, 12:53 PM

    @Ben McArthur: It only takes one radicalised man to cause death and carnage in a vehicle.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 1:33 PM

    @izzy skint: so you’re saying neo-nazis and Islamic fundamentalists are the same?

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    Mute lavbeer
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    Aug 20th 2017, 2:04 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: I didn’t read the 6000 estimate but I did see the police estimates before the event. Either way it seems that the counter demo was bigger. Expect that trend to continue

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Aug 20th 2017, 2:58 PM

    @Ben McArthur: yes those poor white men who enjoy more rights than anyone on the planet don’t want to share those rights with anyone else. Those poor pathetic guys. Thankfully not all white men are like that.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:42 PM

    @izzy skint: so, you’re finally admitting what I said yesterday, the right wing extremists and Islamic fundamentalists use the same methods, for almost the exact same beliefs just with different enemies?

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    Mute Damocles
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    Aug 21st 2017, 6:20 AM

    @Deborah Behan: I think, Deborah, that you have inadvertently hit the nail on the head. You’re saying that because these guys are white males and that white males have enjoyed much greater rights than others on the planet then any concerns these guys have about anything whatsoever can simply be ignored in favour of other issues.

    I think that might start to hit to the nub of the issue.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:02 AM

    No excuses whatsoever. Such thuggery cannot be tolerated.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Aug 20th 2017, 3:00 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: you’re always going to attract idiots to these marches. No excuse for attacking police and takes away from the meaning of the march.

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    Mute AdrianMacPartland
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    Aug 20th 2017, 9:45 AM

    So the good guys attacked the cops?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 11:44 AM

    @AdrianMacPartland: if they’re attacking cops they’re not the good guys

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    Mute Clon Lad
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    Aug 20th 2017, 6:53 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: Do these guys ever read police statements ?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:43 PM

    @Clon Lad: I really don’t think so, I’ve even quoted the police chief here and had someone say they knew better

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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    Aug 20th 2017, 1:03 PM

    In the 1920′s Germany a new political movement used intimidation and brute force and violence to break up and silence opponents rallies and demonstrations. The movement called themselves the National Socialist Party, (Nazis for for short).
    In 2017 in the US a new political movement uses intimidation, brute force and violence to break up and silence opponents rallies and demonstrations. This movement calls themselves the Anti Fascist movement, (Antifa for short). Anyone see daylight between the two movements?

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    Mute JonnyFireBalls
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    Aug 20th 2017, 5:05 PM

    @Mick Jordan: In terms of the big picture, one side is supporting acceptance and the other is supporting a very recent history of segregation. Bottles of piss and car ramming can hardly be compared to mass genocide but one is closer than the other for sure.

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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:50 PM

    @JonnyFireBalls: The Nazi Genocide only occurred After they had become the ruling party. But before that when they were fighting for prominence they intimidated, bullied and attacked those that they opposed to silence them.
    Now Antifa are using the exact same tactics. They are the very thing they claim to despise. They say they are stopping Hate Speech yet they have no idea what what words those speeches are going to contain because they won’t allow them to be given. The speeches for all they know could produce something profound or could be utter drivel, we will never know.
    Antifa are also well known to despise law enforcement as well as businesses. There are numerous videos of them attack in the Police and destroying property. Guess who else did that in the 1920′s.

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    Mute JonnyFireBalls
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    Aug 21st 2017, 12:12 AM

    @Mick Jordan: Ya it seems that this group is frustrated with left pacifism and want to take action but again when their end goal is Anti hate, acceptance, integration ect it’s a massive stretch to compare ideologies just because they are ineffectively using violence or throwing bottles of piss. These are frustrated students more than anything else……. but then again, your view on how things should be will dictate how you view things! I feel if the human race is around don 1000 years, it will view issues like race as immaterial.

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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    Aug 21st 2017, 8:43 AM

    @JonnyFireBalls: Excusing violent thugs as just “frustrated students” is stretching it to breaking point.

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    Mute Milo O' Rourke
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    Aug 22nd 2017, 3:02 AM

    @Mick Jordan: Nah I’d say the nazis are the nazis.

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    Mute Simon O'Connor
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    Aug 20th 2017, 11:52 AM

    No media outlet will mention the fact that Antifa hurled rocks and bottles of urine at the Boston police.

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    Mute Kira
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    Aug 20th 2017, 4:09 PM

    I see the Boston free speech being once again misrepresented in the media as “” gathering of white nationalists “”.

    Some info that people aren,t likely aware of, The Adl have publicly come out & said this week & said that the Boston free speech rally was “” not a white supremacists gathering “”.

    From those still saying the Boston free speech rally was a ” white supremacist rally ” take a good look at one of the main speakers , An Indian american ( Shiva Ayyadurai ) have a listen to what he actually said, not ” white supremacist rally ” stop misrepresenting stuff..

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9X2ZRB9GCU

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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    Aug 20th 2017, 4:31 PM

    @Kira: The majority of decent people do not want to hear their crap anymore.And that is why over 40,000 people came out to tell them that they’re not welcome in Boston..One of those guys that was supposed to give a talk was a lad called Kyle Chapman.A really lovely chap..

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    Mute Kira
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    Aug 20th 2017, 4:38 PM

    @Francis Mc Carthy: Im aware of who Kyle is, a man who engaged in self defense a few months ago when under attack from left wing thugs.

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    Mute Kira
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    Aug 20th 2017, 4:41 PM

    @Francis Mc Carthy: A lot of people came out because quite a few American media outlets played with the facts & misrepresented the free speech rally as being ” a white supremacist rally ” despite the fact that it wasn,t – there is an old quote from Hitler ” repeal a lie enough times, often enough & people will believe it ” .

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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    Aug 20th 2017, 5:03 PM

    @Kira: He’s such a saint that Chapman lad…bwahahaha..ye guys do crack me up

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:45 PM

    @Kira: it was an extreme right event until about Wednesday when they decided they needed to tone it down, that’s why nobody showed up.

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    Mute Mr Rabbit
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    Aug 20th 2017, 2:39 PM

    Such a vile violent crowd the ALT-Left is.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Aug 20th 2017, 3:02 PM

    @Mr Rabbit: imagine if they turned you with guns, rifles, knives and automatic weapons????

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    Mute Mr Rabbit
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    Aug 20th 2017, 3:38 PM

    @Deborah Behan: I know, it won’t be long now until they are using weapons.

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Aug 21st 2017, 12:36 PM

    @izzy skint: I think it’s the other side following jesus.

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    Mute Milo O' Rourke
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    Aug 22nd 2017, 3:04 AM

    @izzy skint: What does that have to do with the situation?

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    Mute Mel Fitzpatrick
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    Aug 20th 2017, 12:16 PM

    Ignorant troll alert

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    Mute Mel Fitzpatrick
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    Aug 20th 2017, 3:20 PM

    @Ser Barristan Selmy: Your reply is up there with “I know you are but what am I?” – if I had known I was debating with a schoolboy I wouldn’t have bothered

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 8:54 PM

    @Ser Barristan Selmy: you lied about the tweet which blamed neither side. You then deny the statement by the head of the organisation whose tweet you use as “proof” you’re not even trying. Up to 6,000 right wing protesters showed up last week resulting in 3 deaths (2 indirectly) and 19 injured. 40,000 left wing protesters show up this week resulting in 0 deaths and a few minor injuries. It’s pretty damn obvious which poses the bigger threat.

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    Mute stefanovich
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    Aug 21st 2017, 6:56 AM

    Love how they put free speech in quotes. Really shows how unbiased AFP are.

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    Mute Ger Murphy
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    Aug 20th 2017, 9:30 AM

    Typical shite from antifa. If your not with them your a Nazi. Empty heads

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    Mute Stephen Rooney
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    Aug 20th 2017, 10:09 AM

    @Ger Murphy: It’s ridiculous, calling people white supremacists, just because they’re wearing t-shirts that say “stop white genocide” or calling them Nazis, just because their flags have swastikas on them…

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 20th 2017, 12:08 PM

    @Ger Murphy: please try not to confuse your and you’re while calling others empty headed.

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    Mute Amy Wallis
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    Aug 25th 2017, 8:54 AM

    You clearly didn’t do much research into this article given how you wrote about the “free speech” protest. Especially the use of quotation marks.

    You do know that there were only about 40 protesters there, but there were thousands of anti-protesters? Or that the main speaker was Indian? Or that they explicitly forbade white nationalists, alt-right and KKK members from the event? That the anti-protesters shouted and screamed and hurled abuse at the few people who joined the protest for free speech?

    They actually invited Black Lives Matter to join them and make a speech.

    So, really, so your research first rather than just lazily branded them as racists.

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