Violence broke out in downtown Boston Tuesday night when a pro-Palestinian demonstration escalated into a full-blown riot, leaving four police officers injured and leading to 13 arrests. The clash unfolded on the two-year anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, as hundreds gathered in what organizers called a “Flood Downtown for Palestine” event.

Boston police reported that the trouble started when protesters refused to clear the roadway near the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Boston Common, blocking emergency vehicles and surrounding cruisers.

“When officers attempted to move the group to the sidewalk to allow emergency vehicles to pass, protesters surrounded police cruisers, kicked vehicle doors and resisted dispersal efforts,” the department stated in a release. “Several officers were assaulted during this period, including one struck in the face. Protesters also ignited smoke devices and flares, further endangering officers and bystanders.”

These actions not only disrupted traffic but created real hazards for everyone in the area, with red smoke billowing through the streets and agitators damaging police equipment like body-worn cameras, radios, and bicycles.

One particularly brutal incident involved a Tufts University student, Roder Atwood, 21, who allegedly broke an officer’s nose during the melee. According to court documents cited by CBS Boston, Atwood faces charges of assault and battery on a police officer after the protest, which devolved when demonstrators sat in the middle of the street and turned aggressive. This level of force against law enforcement shows how quickly paid protesters and devoted Marxist events can spiral out of control, putting officers in immediate danger.

The Boston Police Department further detailed the chaos: “During the disturbance, officers reported equipment being forcibly removed or damaged, including body-worn cameras, radios, bicycles and other duty gear.”

As the situation worsened, additional units arrived, but protesters kept fighting back.

“As violence escalated,” police said, more officers were deployed while agitators “continued to resist dispersal.” In total, four officers ended up needing medical treatment for injuries ranging from facial trauma to other assaults sustained in the scrum.

By Wednesday morning, the 13 arrested individuals—Osama Khatib, 26; Roder Atwood, 21; Atalanta Carrig-Braun, 20; Haley MacIntyre, 24; Madeline Weikel, 27; Jacob Pettigrew, 22; Amun Prophet, 25; Laith Hintzman, 19; Benjamin Choucroun, 20; Owen Woodcock, 26; Prahlad Iyengar, 25; Styx Hatch, 19; and Gabrielle Smith, 28—faced arraignments at Boston Municipal Court on charges including unlawful assembly, assault, and obstructing emergency responses.

Outside the courthouse, supporters chanted “F— you, Nazis” and “BPD is KKK,” refusing to disperse until a court officer cleared the area. This kind of rhetoric only adds fuel to the fire, turning what could be civil discourse into outright hostility toward those sworn to protect the community.

Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu responded. “We are extremely grateful for the work of the Boston Police in keeping the city safe and in supporting the right to peacefully protest,” she said. “Boston will not tolerate violence, and we categorically condemn those who came into our community to attack our police officers. The individuals who engaged in these attacks must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Wu’s words were empty because her lenient on crime policies enabled the violence, prompting a Boston Herald editorial that argued against “criminal coddling” in cases like this.

Public reaction on social media echoed the outrage, with radio host Howie Carr sharing the police incident report and highlighting the protesters’ actions as part of a broader pattern of unrest. One X post from Carr described the event as “hippie-Muslim riots protesting Israel’s response to genocidal Nazi attacks two years ago,” pointing to the names of those arrested and the underlying tensions. Other accounts, like those from local news outlets, shared videos of the confrontation, showing crowds blocking streets and clashing with officers.

This incident in Boston follows a wave of similar pro-Palestinian actions across the country since the 2023 attack, but the violence here raises serious questions about maintaining order in urban centers. With emergency vehicles delayed and officers hospitalized, it’s a stark reminder of the costs when protests cross into riot territory. Authorities have vowed to hold those responsible accountable, and as the cases move forward, the city will watch closely to see if that promise holds.