Two counterprotesters who clashed with police in Copley Square on Sunday are accused of punching and pushing officers, according to Boston Police.
The loud counterprotest was against a group delivering a series of pro-Trump and anti-Democrat speeches on the sidewalk in front of Boston Public Library.
The counterprotest quickly devolved into skirmishes with police after counterprotesters moved barricades set by police between the two sides.
Naim Ball, 25, of Mattapan, is one of the counterprotesters who breached the barriers, police said. Ball earlier during the event had made “terrorist and seditious threats of violence,” the police report states.
“Let’s have a civil war 2020 … Boston has guns … you come to Boston we will start shooting,” he’s accused of saying.
After breaching the barriers, an officer told Ball to move back and exit the buffer zone. In response, Ball punched two officers, breaking one of the officer’s protective face shields, police said.
An officer chased after Ball, who tripped and fell, according to police. A large crowd then attacked the officer, trying to free Ball, but several officers were able to “push back the violent crowd” and apprehend Ball.
Gregory Abrams, 31, of Boston, was also arrested at the protest.
Wearing all black and a hard black bicycle helmet, Abrams is accused of running toward officers and yelling profanities. An officer told Abrams to move back, but Abrams continued running toward the officers and pushing one.
“The suspect then began swinging his arms wildly,” the police report states.
Abrams was eventually placed in handcuffs and removed from the scene.
Both Ball and Abrams were arraigned on Monday. They were both charged with assault and battery on a police officer, along with other charges.
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