It wasn’t a pretty scene on the Boston Common on Saturday Aug. 19, but it was a determined one. Crowd estimates ranged from 10,000 to 20,000 – whatever the number, it was a lot compared to the approx.. 20 so called “Free Speech” advocates who wanted to have an Alt-Right Rally. Will from Cambridge explained why he was on Boston Common. Will act There was a lot of tension in the air, but the police remained low key, and did a decent job of maintaining order. Jocelyn is a southern woman from Virginia. She had a sign that read Dixie descendent and against racist and anti-semantic BS (she had the BS spelled out but for radio decency ….well, you know). She was very enthusiastic by the size of the crowd. Joc act There was a small group of counter-counter protesters, whom I had to respect their bravery for stepping into this crowd. I tried to engage one of them, a woman with a large US flag. I asked her what she thought about white supremacy. Alt-Right act This conversation soon descended into a shouting match with other protesters and I never did get the woman’s name, but she did say she was from R.I. Ugly scene act Another ugly scene transpired when 2 young men wearing Trump flags as capes tried to mingle in with the crowd. They were shouted at, pushed and shoved by some protesters, while other protesters tried to keep peace. A small angry mob escorted them out of the park against their will. Walter, an attorney who lives in the Fenway also witnessed this disturbance. I asked him to comment on it. Walter act The death of Heather Heyer was on some people’s minds. Shawn from Dover,NH, carried a sign baring her photo on it. Shawn act Drown them out chant I’m not sure if the Free Speech rally organizers ever even attempted to speak, but if they did, they obviously were not going to be heard. Progressive State Representative, Byron Rushing, was annoyed by this. Byron act. A woman named Tracy from a Boston suburb held a peculiar sign…. Tracy act Vermin Act Vermin Supreme, a well known political clown in the Boston area did provide a little comic relief to the over-riding angst in the air. If the point of the counter demonstration to the so-called Free Speech rally was to shut it down, then to that aim they were victorious. The police had to escort the some 20 alt-right advocates out of the park for their own safety and their rally never happened. The overall feeling in the crowd was anger, and a complete denunciation of white racism and the Trump administration. But there were some pockets of peace and love to be found . Hammer act Reporting from the Boston Common, I am Chuck Rosina