Super Happy Fun America, Opposers Clash At Boston Common

BOSTON, MA — Two people were arrested at a right-wing group's protest against vaccine mandates, which turned aggressive when demonstrators clashed with counterprotestors at Boston Common on Sunday.

At Super Happy Fun America's "Rise Against Tyranny" rally, demonstrators from the group and from a counterprotest movement called Mask Up Against Hate fought for several hours in confrontations that became "heated and at times violent," The Boston Globe reported.

Though there was a heavy police presence in the area and officers had set up metal barricades, participants still confronted each other and some tore the barricades down, according to WCVB.

No injuries were reported, though one person was spayed with a chemical irritant, the Globe said.

Police in riot gear broke up the fights and arrested two people, 7 News reported.

Sergeant Detective John Boyle, a Boston police spokesperson, told WCVB that the Boston Police Department had a "well-prepared, solid plan" for the event.

"The fact that two people were arrested, and no injuries, no officer injuries, I don’t see a break down," Boyle said.

Super Happy Fun America, the group that created the "Straight Pride" parade in 2019, has ties to the far-right — in July, it hosted a "Heroes of Jan. 6" gathering to raise money for its two members who were arrested and charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Attendee Elizabeth Birdsall told the Globe that she joined the counterprotest to "support safety and equality for everyone in Boston," though she said to 7 News that she didn't like the clashes that ensued.

"It's regrettable, it's too bad," Birdsall said. "I don't support violence but I also don't support hateful speech."