Boston police arrested three men Saturday after a group of masked men chanting the name of a neo-Nazi group demonstrated outside a historic mansion in Jamaica Plain where families had gathered for a children’s drag queen story hour, according to a department spokesman and witnesses. Counter-protesters gathered to denounce the demonstration by the masked men outside the Loring Greenough House, which hosted the drag queen story hour. The three people arrested by Boston police face charges of disturbing the peace and affray, said Sergeant Detective John Boyle, a department spokesman. He didn’t immediately have information about the identities of the men who were arrested or whether they were among the masked men or participants in the counter-demonstration. The office of Mayor Michelle Wu said the police department’s civil rights unit is investigating “the targeting of the LGBTQ community members” because the demonstration coincided with the drag queen story hour. “It’s no coincidence that these cowardly groups from outside our city continue to target Boston as we showcase how representative leadership, empowered communities, and bold policies can have immediate impact,” Wu said in a statement. “We are prepared and will not be intimidated in our work to make Boston a city for everyone. We remain ready for citywide deployment of extra public safety resources with a zero tolerance approach to any groups looking to intimidate or harass residents in our city.”
via bostonglobe: Masked men chanting name of neo-Nazi group demonstrate outside JP venue hosting drag queen