On Tuesday night in Boston, a violent protest broke out in the name of “justice,” but what really happened was an ambush on law enforcement. Let’s call it what it was — a coordinated riot that put police officers in danger and left four of them injured. As a veteran who’s walked into more than one hostile situation, I know what a setup looks like. And this was exactly that: a trap set for those who wear the badge.
According to the Boston Police Department, the protest started like many others — loud, disruptive, but still manageable. That changed fast. Officers tried to clear the intersection to let emergency vehicles through. That’s standard procedure. But when they moved in, the crowd turned on them. Protesters swarmed police cruisers, kicked doors, resisted orders, and even attacked officers. One officer was struck in the face. Others had their gear ripped off or destroyed. Smoke bombs and flares were set off, putting everyone — officers and bystanders — at serious risk.
Larry Calderone, the president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, didn’t sugarcoat it. He said officers were “lured into a gauntlet.” That’s a military term for a brutal trap — and it fits. These officers were led into a blocked-off intersection where they couldn’t move, couldn’t retreat, and couldn’t avoid the chaos. That’s not a protest. That’s a planned assault.
This riot wasn’t some spontaneous outburst of emotion. It was organized by Students for Justice in Palestine to mark the anniversary of a Hamas terrorist attack from October 7, 2023. That date alone tells you a lot. These weren’t peaceful demonstrators mourning loss. They were sympathizers with a terrorist group, and they acted accordingly.
Thirteen people were arrested. Their names are public, and their charges are serious: unlawful assembly, resisting arrest, obstruction, assault, and later, a felony charge of promoting anarchy. That last one is no joke. After reviewing the group’s flyers and messages, officials found that they were encouraging people to fight the police. That crosses a hard line. This wasn’t about free speech. It was about violence.
Let’s be clear: peaceful protest is a right. Every American has the freedom to speak their mind, even if we disagree with what they say. But the moment you cross into violence — the second you raise your hand against a peace officer — you’ve forfeited that right. You’re not a protester anymore. You’re a criminal.
This kind of behavior has no place in Boston, or anywhere else in this country. We’ve already seen what happens when cities let these types of riots go unchecked — lawlessness spreads, respect for police vanishes, and communities suffer. That won’t happen here.
Calderone sent a strong message to anyone thinking of pulling a stunt like this again: Boston won’t tolerate it. And I stand with him. As someone who’s led men through combat zones, I know that order, discipline, and respect for authority aren’t just military values — they’re the backbone of a civilized society.
We need to support our law enforcement. They’re the ones standing between order and chaos. When radicals try to tear that down under the false banner of “justice,” we have to call it out for what it is — an attack on the rule of law. And when they target our officers, we don’t just defend them — we make sure those responsible face the full weight of the law.
To the officers who stood their ground in Boston: you have the respect and gratitude of every patriot in this country. Hold the line. We’ve got your six.
