Thread by @matt_cam

Tang of pepper spray and sweat in the air as the BPD's honor guard ushers a small army of #straightprideparade trolls down Boylston St. Brass band jams on Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man," and it slaps hard. #Antifa keeping the peace.

Just a whole sea of us giving the fash a traditional #Boston welcome

#straightprideparade

This joker is cosplaying "press" and doing everything he possibly can to get someone to assault him. No one's taking him up on it.

#straightprideparade

A block of riot cops five deep are standing guard. The building behind them is where every deportation in New England is ordered.

@VerminSupreme passes with a bullhorn chanting "DOUCHEBAG PRIDE"

No actual signs of trouble.

A couple of fash are demonstrating their #straightpride with a trans flag they have scribbled all over like the confused five-year-olds they are. "Moonlight Sonata" blasts somberly from the rally speakers. It's all very sad.

An assortment of motorcycle cops from all over the state just rode straight through our peaceful assembly. Hundreds of protesters quietly file in to stand, kneel, and link arms in front of them. We don't need them here.

I'm not just saying that. There was no call for this. Pure show of force.

The inimitable @VerminSupreme is helpfully narrating arrests over his megaphone.

"What are you charging him with? Getting hit with your bike? No harm, no foul"

Small peaceful encounters happening nearby. Someone asks this guy in a brown #MAGA hat, not too confrontationally, why he's here. He says something about Trump and the economy. This woman politely explains that it's at the expense of working people. He nods. He has no response

#straightprideparade takeaways:

--some power levels are more hidden than others

--putting a silly clown face on white supremacy may be an effective way to pull in the normies, but not in #Boston

--the only violence I saw today was paid for with my taxes

--@VerminSupreme 2020