BOSTON — Nearly 50 years ago, black protesters visited Carson Beach, in an effort to integrate the recreational spot. It did not go well.
“Folks were throwing rocks and bricks and bottles at us because we were on the beach,” said Rev. Miniard Culpepper, pastor of the Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church and a candidate for State Senate in the 2nd Suffolk district.
Culpepper recalled, however, Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) officers on horseback separating the two sides.
But Sunday, at a press conference on the Carson Beach boardwalk, Culpepper and other faith leaders hinted that perhaps Massachusetts State Police officers went too far in their handling of a large, unruly crowd at that location last weekend. Hundreds of young people were involved -- with the officers forced to break up several fights.
Police eventually arrested five people.
Culpepper said he does not believe, given the low ‘arrest to crowd-size ratio, that the majority of the young people on the beach that night were looking for trouble. He said it’s more likely they were there for the same reason anyone would be there -- to have a good time.
Interim Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden, who also attended the press conference, agreed.
“Our entire world has reopened,” he said. “And people are looking for opportunities and for social interaction they haven’t had in quite some time.
How social interaction went so badly south last week is unknown but Culpepper suggested there are ways to help prevent a repeat performance.
“When you have a city where opportunities are not what they should be, then you’re going to have some issues,” he said. “If we give them a summer job it keeps them out of trouble.”
Culpepper plans to meet with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu regarding jobs for young people this summer. He also called on Governor Charlie Baker to set up a State Police Reform Task Force.
“To review all practices -- in particular use of force and implicit bias as it pertains to our city youth,” he said.
Boston 25 News has reached out to the Massachusetts State Police for its reaction to the concerns and questions raised on Sunday.
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