BOSTON (AP) — Ten people were arraigned in a Boston courthouse and five of them were fined $200 Friday after being arrested during demonstrations over a New York City grand jury’s decision to not indict a white police officer in the chokehold death of an unarmed black man.
Charges against eight people were changed to civil infractions in District Court, while the remaining two protesters refused similar offers and said they wanted to go to trial, according to the Suffolk County district attorney’s office. All 10 defendants were released.
The demonstrators were among thousands of people who took part in mostly peaceful protests Thursday night at Boston Common, the Statehouse and other locations. All 10 people arrested are from the Boston area.
Police said three women were arrested trying to breach a gate at the Statehouse, six people were charged with trespassing on highway ramps and a woman was arrested for blocking stairs at a subway station. The arrests were made by Boston, state and transit police.
On its Twitter account, the Boston Police Department thanked the thousands who demonstrated peacefully and cooperated with law enforcement, saying: “You too should be proud.”
Police Commissioner William Evans, in a statement, thanked his officers for showing “restraint and professionalism” during the protest.
“I am truly proud to lead such a great department,” Evans said. “I also want to acknowledge and thank the public for their patience and understanding with the necessary road closures and driving restrictions.”
Demonstrators held signs saying “Justice for All” and “Black Lives Matter” and joined in chants including “Hey, hey, ho, ho. These racist cops have got to go.”
Gov. Deval Patrick urged demonstrators before the rally to be peaceful and said he sympathized with their concerns.
Patrick said he was frustrated and discouraged by the grand jury’s finding that there was no reasonable cause to bring charges in Eric Garner’s death. He said it’s even more upsetting since there is a videotape showing police Officer Daniel Pantaleo holding Garner in what appeared to be a chokehold, which is banned under New York Police Department policy, as Garner repeatedly gasped and said, “I can’t breathe.”
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