Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Police Protect “Straight Pride Parade” and Attack Counter-Protesters

The cops maced, beat and arrested the people who showed up to protest the white nationalist and hate-filled “straight pride parade” in Boston.

Tatiana Cozzarelli

September 2, 2019
Facebook Twitter Share
(Photo: Joseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty Images)

“It’s great to be straight.” 

“Straight lives matter!”

Those were the chants and posters held up at Saturday’s “Straight Pride Parade” in Boston. American and Israeli flags abounded as over 100 people rallied for this hate-filled event. Gay neo-fascist Milo Yiannopoulos led the parade of Trump supporters through the streets with speakers blaring “God Bless America.”

“Whether you are straight and part of the oppressed majority, or here as an ally supporting us, we welcome you to the greatest parade in the history of the world!” said Mark Sahady, who helped put on the parade organized by Super Happy Fun America, a group with ties to white nationalists

More than a few signs said “Build the wall and crime will fall.” The Trump signs and the anti-immigrant rhetoric show that this was not only a rally about the homophobic and transphobic hate of “straight pride.”  This was a white-supremacist, nationalist hate rally, bringing together the most racist, sexist, homo- and transphobic Trump supporters.

This rally was about an emboldened right wing who feels threatened by the very existence of LGBTQ+ people, immigrants and feminists. The few rights we have won—the right to marry, or to have a parade once a year, or be a token best friend on a TV show or—make these right wing sectors feel that they are an “oppressed majority.” And our erasure is part of a broader political project to “Make America Great Again”: to make it as racist, sexist, homo- and transphobic as possible. This comes on the heels of several neo-fascist mobilizations, most recently in Portland, where the police also defended the neo-fascists and attacked counter-protesters. 

The Boston community responded forcefully. Over 1,000 people mobilized against the “Straight Pride Parade.” It was clear that despite tons of press, the “straights” were humiliatingly outnumbered. 

It is no surprise that the police were there to protect and defend only one side: the neo-fascists. The sheer number of cops was staggering; Boston brought in cops from other cities to make sure that the homo- and transphobes marched without interruption. The police wore gas masks, military outfits and helmets; they came ready for battle. What was perhaps more surprising was the virulence with which the police attacked counter-protesters, arresting 36 of them and pepper spraying more, including several medics. Not only did the police mace counter-protesters, but some were also punched and hit with batons. The violence by the “Straight Pride” crowd was often unchecked, like when Proud Boy member Kenny Lizardo chased counter-protesters down the street.

While in the past few years, the police have attempted to paint themselves as “queer friendly,” with the police marching in Pride—New York City Police Commissioner James O’Neill even “apologized” for Stonewall—their actions in Boston show the cops’ true colors. They side with the right wing that wants to drive LGBTQ+ people into the closet. Their hatred contributes to suicide rates, hate crimes and the death of over 14 Black trans women just this year. 

Celebrating “straight pride” is like celebrating “white pride.” And the cops once again defended hate groups, just as they did in Portland and around the country. 

You may be interested in: NYPD, Apology for Stonewall Not Accepted

It’s no surprise: the cops are a right wing force meant to terrorize the working class and oppressed people. As LGBTQ+ people, our movement was born from violent confrontations with the police, and even if the police march in our parades and drape themselves with rainbow flags, we know what they do to Black and Brown people every day. We know what they do to gender non-conforming folks, especially those of color. 

And the stronger we—the Left—get, the more the police will be used to terrorize us, like they did in Boston and like they have done throughout history. 

Now more than ever, it’s important to make clear: no cops at pride

No cops (or cop organizers) in our organizations. 

The cops defend with brutality and terror a system that we, the Left, want to destroy. 

If you would like to share your story or experience in Boston, please contact us.

Facebook Twitter Share

Tatiana Cozzarelli

Tatiana is a former middle school teacher and current Urban Education PhD student at CUNY.

Gender & Sexuality

“We are your economy”: Trans Youth Walkout and Speak Out

The following is a speech by a young trans person as part of an action called for by NYC Youth for Trans Rights.

Tatiana Cozzarelli

March 20, 2023
Mexican president AMLO on the left with the female members of his cabinet. International Women's Day protesters on the right.

President AMLO’s Government Is Not Feminist

On March 8, Mexican president AMLO spoke cynically of his commitment to feminism. But the fight against gendered violence, militarization, and labor precarity will be fought by the masses, not the so-called “progressive” government in Mexico.

Barbara Funes

March 13, 2023
A sign drawn on a small whiteboard, in trans pride colors. Text: "CUNY Graduate Center and Professional Schools Workers for Trans Rights" Beneath the text is a chain of 9 smiling stick figures in different colors, all holding hands

CUNY Union Chapter Unanimously Passes Resolution in Support of Trans Rights

The Graduate Center chapter of PSC-CUNY, the faculty, staff, and graduate worker union of the City University of New York, passed a resolution pledging support to all workers fighting the anti-trans bills nationwide.

Olivia Wood

March 12, 2023

“We Won’t Go Down Without a Fight”: Trans Youth Walkout and Speak Out

The following is a speech by a student activist from NYC Youth for Trans Rights.

Raven Benjamin

March 11, 2023

MOST RECENT

“Lesser Evil” Biden Wants More Border Patrol Than MAGA Republicans

Over the weekend, Biden bragged about his support for even more resources than “MAGA Republicans.” to “secure the border” on Twitter. This is “lesser evilism” in action.

Molly Rosenzweig

March 28, 2023
Customers clear shelves of water Sunday at Fresh Grocer in West Philadelphia.

A Chemical Plant Just Poisoned Philadelphia’s Water: A First-Hand Account of the Crisis

A company dumped thousands of gallons of poisonous chemicals into Philadelphia’s drinking water. This is an on-the-ground account by a Philadelphia worker and socialist.

Jason Koslowski

March 27, 2023
A group of protesters, in the front of whom are a line of protesters wearing red vests. In the front right corner, a white sign reds "vive la retraite," with a skeleton wearing a red hat in the middle of the sign on a black background with a text bubble on its left that reads, "oiv a bosse, c'est pas pour en crever!"

“French March”: The Right to Revolutionary Optimism

Evoking memories of '68, the students enter the fight against Macron. In our chaotic world, the future can only be built in the streets.

Eduardo Castilla

March 26, 2023

Joe Biden Is Deporting Russians Who Escaped Putin’s Draft — Let Them All In!

The United States is deporting Russians who sought asylum following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is a heinous attack against war resisters and shows that the proxy war in Ukraine is about capitalist rivalry first and foremost.

Sam Carliner

March 26, 2023