Members of the group, identified by police as the Patriot Front, marched through the city Saturday with their faces covered, wearing shirts that read “Reclaim America.” The Anti-Defamation League, which monitors hate groups nationwide, has called the Patriot Front a white supremacist group that spreads racism, anti-Semitism and other forms of hate online. The ADL says the group is focused on “preserving America’s identity as a European-American identity.” Police say a black man reported being assaulted during the march after the man said he was trying to record the group on his cell phone. In the police report sent to ABC News by Boston Police Department officials, the man said Patriot Front members with shields began surrounding and pushing him after he started recording. Thomas Rousseau, founder and leader of the white nationalist group Patriot Front, along with other supporters march during the Fourth of July holiday weekend in Malden, Massachusetts, July 2, 2022. Retrieved from Reuters When he tried to push back to free himself, he was knocked to the ground, kicked and beaten, the police report said. The man suffered injuries to his head, hands and arms and was treated at a nearby hospital, according to the report. No arrests have been made. The man later identified himself as Charles Murrell, an artist and social justice organizer. He spoke Monday at a gathering of black leaders and urged listeners to attend local events about race, diversity and justice. “There are ambassadors, artists and people who care about the city and the image of this city, who have done the work, and we invite you to come and share space with us,” Murrell said. Mawakana Onifade, Murrell’s friend and mentor, said, “We will always stand in the face of the new Klan, there is no mistake in that. When someone covers their face, we know what is behind it.” Local Black leaders called the Patriot Front the “kids of the KKK.” “We are not surprised. Boston has a long legacy of racism,” said the Rev. Kevin Peterson. “In reality, the city was built on racism. Slaves were imported here. And that legacy continues until 2022.” Leaders are calling on Mayor Michelle Wu to act quickly against the spread of hate and dangerous ideologies. “We cannot see this as the new era. This is the old era that must be broken,” Onifade said. “Mayor Wu, what are you actually going to do besides the words we read about. What is the call to action? Where is the accountability?” Supporters of the white nationalist group Patriot Front march during the Fourth of July holiday weekend in Malden, Massachusetts, July 2, 2022. Retrieved from Reuters Wu condemned the march, writing on Twitter that “the disgusting hatred of white supremacists has no place here.” In a statement, Boston City Councilman Ed Flynn warned of growing white supremacy in the area. “It is absolutely disgusting to once again read reports and see videos on social media of dozens of neo-Nazis making another brazen public display of their abhorrent ideology,” Flynn wrote. “They have continued to make their presence known, most recently in March at the St. Patrick’s Day parade,” when members of the Patriot Front reportedly held a “Keep Boston Irish” banner. Wu said the investigation into the latest incident is ongoing and he leads the city’s Civil Rights Unit, according to Boston’s ABC affiliate WCVB-TV. “We are looking for their identities and some information has already been shared in various places about the national leaders of this group involved in this effort, who were in the city, were present at the recent events as this group went to terrorize other communities as well Wu said.
