With the bloodshed in Charlottesville last weekend, I had given thought to attending one of the counter protests to the so-called "Free Speech" Rally to be held on Boston Common on Saturday.
Of course, the organizers of the rally claim they have nothing to do with racists, anti-Semites and white supremacists. Balderdash. People who have nothing to do with racists, anti-Semites and white supremacists don't invite them to speak at their rallies. This group does not have a monopoly on free speech and their aims and objectives have nothing to do with free speech.
But as much am I disgusted by racists, anti-Semites and white supremacists and as much as I am disgusted by President Trump's response to Charlottesville, I cannot bring myself to attend either counter protest.
One counter protest is a march organized by Blacks Lives Matter chapters in Boston and Cambridge. I simply cannot ignore BLM's hatred of the police and their own anti-Semitism. All the more so with the six police officers shot on Friday night throughout the U.S. including one fatally in Kissimmee, Florida. I cannot march with Black Lives Matter and I suspect they would just as soon not welcome me in their ranks.
Nor can bring myself to attend the rally across the State House sponsored by the local ANSWER Coalition and the Coalition to Organize & Mobilize Boston Against Trump (C.O.M.B.A.T.). ANSWER are a bunch of apologists for the North Korean regime while C.O.M.B.A.T. is your typical Marxist-Leninist-Maoist organization. As with Black Lives Matter, I don't think they would want me around any more than I would want to be around them.
Had there been a broad based march led by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, a Democrat and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, a Republican a la the Charlie Hebdo March in Paris then I would have participated.
Needless to say, I hope tomorrow's happenings occur peaceably and without incident. Given the sterling job the Boston Police did during the Boston Women's March in January (which I did attend) I have every confidence that order will prevail. But, of course, Boston has seen terrorism and who can say one of the white supremacists wouldn't try to infiltrate one of the counter protests and wreak havoc.
In the grand scheme of things I believe it possible to oppose President Trump's agenda and character and oppose racists, anti-Semites and white supremacists without having to endorse Black Lives Matter or any other far left-wing organization. Black Lives Matter, ANSWER and C.O.M.B.A.T. might argue you can't be neutral. I'm not being neutral. I'm on my own side.
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