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Pro-Palestinian activists believed to have incited a riot on Tuesday now face charges of “promotion of anarchy” as several law enforcement officers sustained injuries during the disorder.
The Boston Herald revealed that on Thursday, the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office escalated charges for the 13 individuals involved. They are now confronted with allegations of infringing a state law against “promotion of anarchy,” a felony as indicated in court documents.
The incident began with a pro-Palestinian gathering of around 200 to 300 people in downtown Boston, but quickly turned into a riot. Police stated that 13 participants were detained after they allegedly began attacking officers.
A representative from the district attorney’s office informed the Herald that the more severe charges followed a Boston Police Department evaluation of promotional posters for the event. These posters included a quote from a Hamas official and an image of a police vehicle in flames.
A court officer clears the area outside a courtroom Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, at Boston Municipal Court, where arraignments were held for people arrested at a pro-Palestinian melee in Boston. (Mark Stockwell/The Boston Herald via AP, Pool)
Suffolk County DA Kevin Hayden sent a message to future protesters in a statement on Wednesday: Remain peaceful or face prosecution.
“These individuals weren’t in court because they were merely protesting,” Hayden remarked. “They appeared in court due to criminal actions. Assaulting police and committing further offenses will result in arrest and prosecution, no exceptions.”
“Peaceful protests happen all the time in this city,” he said. “We support everyone’s right to protest. But these individuals chose against protesting peacefully, and they are now facing the consequences of those choices.”
According to Boston.com, the initial protest was organized by local Students for Justice in Palestine chapters, which coincided with the two-year mark of the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas.
The protest was intended to “flood downtown for Palestine.”
According to the report, people yelled “F— you, Nazis” and “BPD is KKK” as they refused to leave the area.
