Monday night about sixty Black Lives Matter protests, organized by Boston youth, marched around downtown, eventually blocking the North Station subway entrance. The event was originally scheduled for last week but was postponed due to weather.
Starting at the Park Street MBTA entrance, protesters headed first towards State and Congress where they took over and blocked most of the intersection. As they marched they were followed by about twenty police officers, half on bikes, who continually tried to redirect traffic and block off streets.
Protesters at the intersection of State and Congress near Faneuil Hall
Protesters holding signs at State and Congress
There weren't quite enough people to circle-up and fully block the larger intersections. Police officers were able to redirect some of the traffic around. It rained much of the day and the wet streets prevented the group from staging die-ins or sitting in traffic.
After about five minutes, the march continued through City Hall Plaza and over to Cambridge Street.
Marching down Cambridge Street after passing through City Hall Plaza
Holding a sign for motorists being rerouted past the intersection by police officers
From here they marched by the Boston Police station on Sudbury Street and tried to take over the intersection in front of the Haymarket MBTA station.
Again, there were not enough people to completely block the intersection which led to police officers trying to move individual protesters out of the way to clear a lane or two of traffic leading to some tense confrontations between a handful of the marchers and police.
Passing Haymarket MBTA station on Merrimack Street
From here the march continued on to North Station. After the entrance to the North Station Commuter Station and Garden was blocked off by both police, the protesters when down into the subway station and blocked the main entrance.
Protesters sat and stood blocking the turnstiles for four and half minutes, forcing the T-riders to either wait, find another entrance, or struggle to push past the assembled crowd.
Man trying to step over a black protesters while trying the exit the station
Everyone, arms linked in North Station
The obvious symbolism of forcing white people to literally step over black people fighting for equability didn't seem to be lost on anyone.
After reciting the Assata Shakur quote “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains,” the protest ended and many hopped on the next train.