Thanks to our new Councilor Theo Offei, I was able to attend the “No Kings Rally” in Watertown Square this past Saturday, March 28th. There was over 1,000 people in attendance. Conspicuously absent was the City Manager George Proakis, Council President Mark Sideris and Public Safety.
Police Public Safety; Traffic Details, are common for an event of this size and common sense would tell you that a significant number of residents would be gathering in the Square.
We have seniors, people with disabilities and residents from the Perkins School for the Blind and there were no safety procedures in place to ensure their safety. Councilor Vinnie Piccirilli had to serve as a traffic monitor, undertaking the task of getting people safely across Galen Street.
Watertown is in the final stages of a major study of the Square — an area where current conditions already raise serious safety concerns for residents, pedestrians, and drivers. When a large public gathering takes place in that environment, my question is whether the future is more important than the current safety of people in the Square today?
Given the safety concerns, the Town Manager has a responsibility to be physically present during high‑visibility events such as Saturday’s rally. Leadership presence is a core part of ensuring that activities proceed safely and that residents feel supported and protected.
Best,
Clyde Younger
Watertown Resident
It’s perfectly fitting that the Council President and City Manager not participate in a highly partisan event.
If the organizer of this event want a police detail, thry should call the Police ahead of time and hire a detail. That’s what other organizations do.
The taxpayers shouldn’t have to fund Police details every group that decides it wants to hold an event.
I agree (so rarely) with you about the first part; no need for the City Manager or Council President to attend. Public safety should be present in compliance with a neutral standard around engagement (regardless of who is gathering) consistent with First Amendment protections for freedom of assembly. How wonderful that over 1,000 people were part of the 8 million nationwide/worldwide to protest the insanity of Trump!
John, where in my letter did you see participate, If someone was injured or killed crossing the street or whatever may occur in this litigious period, do you not understand that they are not going to include the city?
Actually, such a gathering is constitutionally protected speech in a public square. Many municipalities, in the interest of public safety, provide a police presence. There were many police patrolling the Boston Common protest. Ditto in other localities.
No taxpayer money should go ever towards funding a private group gathering. It’s scary that this even needs to be said. You want police detail? You pay for it. End of story.
I didn’t see where the organizers asked for a detail. If public safety leadership requires it, consistently with neutral content standards and a respect for the First Amendment right to protest, then it should be done. Nothing scary about any of this, except perhaps for those threatened by the “No Kings” movement and it’s 1,000+ supporters in Watertown who turned out!!
I don’t belong to any group around No Kings(nor do I know of any outside of https://www.nokings.org/) but hear about these via word of mouth or Social media or news(oh and I attended one of the hundreds available in MA). If a councilor wants to go protest their choice one way/other, or help out given he/she is a councilor and sees a need, great(very good American citizen IMO). I don’t like to pay for extra police at events either or many other things(including a war), so yes possibly locally group could coordinate and pay for police or coordinate with police and have trained volunteers? (for the next No Kings protest). This was a public peaceful protest and fueled by frustration and disapproval of current Admin, kudos to all who use their constitutional right to protest peacefully. Great showing Watertown!
I am sorry to read that you or others were inconvenienced. Even in an exercise of free speech, safety must be a priority. I only wonder if a major crossroads from all points of the compass such as Watertown Square is a proper place for a demonstration of that size. Evidently, it is not. Perhaps after the redesign, with fewer roads and a larger delta, the Square could handle it, but if the many existing crosswalks and traffic lights were not enough, I don’t see how the City Manager’s presence would have helped. I am relieved it all worked out without incident.
Honestly, with zero gathering events, the square is hard to cross safely! Looking forward to a redesign to help make this area more welcoming to foot traffic/bikes and automobiles too!
As a participant in the recent gathering in Watertown Square, my perspective was a bit different than this writer. I saw no reason to have police or other public safety people in attendance. The people at the event self organized to help each other and look out for each other. There is no need to always be looking for police. In fact, I would actually say that a police presence would have made some participants apprehensive to be part of the gathering. I think this event was actually a great example of how people can help each other and not have to rely on the police.