Chaos Unfurls As Hate Group Leader Heads To Court

WEST ROXBURY, MA — Commotion and chaos surrounded West Roxbury District Court Monday morning as a leader of a Massachusetts-based neo-Nazi organization appeared in court on charges connected to a protest outside a drag queen story hour in Jamaica Plain over the weekend.

Christopher R. Hood Jr., 23, of Pepperell, who was charged with affray and disturbing the peace, was leading a group of about 20 masked men Saturday holding a banner that read "PEDO SCUM OFF OUR STREETS" and demonstrating outside the Loring Greenough House, where families had gathered for the event.

Hood is a white nationalist who founded NSC-131 in 2019. NSC-131 started drawing mainstream media and police attention after members participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. NSC stands for "Nationalist Social Club," according to the Anti-Defamation League, and 131 is the alphanumeric code for ACA, or Anti-Communist Action.

On Saturday, Hood got into a fight with a two counterprotesters who were also charged with affray and disturbing the peace.

Hood was ordered to stay away from the two counter-protesters who had their charges dropped Monday morning.

Before their charges were dropped, a supporter of the counter-protesters was arrested after getting into a scuffle outside the courthouse. WBZ News Radio posted a video of the incident on Twitter.

It is unclear what charges the person who fell down the stairs will be facing.

A heavy police presence surrounded the courthouse as Hood entered the building surrounded by supporters while LGBTQ+ supporters chanted "Nazi's Out" from the ground below.

U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins issued a statement regarding the incident Monday.

"Every single person deserves to live their life fully and authentically as who they are. But, if your authentic self is a bigot that wants to harm, humiliate and terrorize people, you are not welcome here. In Boston, Massachusetts we have a long history of standing up to hate and injustice. We don’t hide behind masks. When we see inequity and harm, we look the culprit in their eyes and demand that it stops. If it doesn't, we use every means at our disposal - legislatively, through the courts, and with community organizing - to end it."

"And that is exactly what is going to happen here," Rollins continued. "If the public has any troubling or concerning information about members of white supremacist groups, we ask that you notify your local police departments or a member of law enforcement. I will be announcing a dedicated number for the community to call in the coming weeks. We need to expose these cowards."

"As was shown by the swift response of Mayor Wu and the Boston Police Department this weekend, there is a zero tolerance policy for white supremacists or any potential racially motivated violent extremist in Massachusetts," Rollins added. "As the Chief Federal law enforcement officer, I stand ready to deploy federal time and resources to assist our State, Local and Tribal partners in effectuating any arrests and prosecutions."

Hood is due back in court in September.