The day after a white supremacist gunned down Hispanics in Texas, masked white supremacists rally in Copley Square and try to get on the Orange Line.
By Alberto Vasallo, III
Boston – Denise Guzman is a 45 year old executive assistant at a well known downtown financial institution. Born and raised in Mission Hill, she feels as Bostonian as they come.
Her three children (ages 20, 16 and 13) are also products of the city of Boston. And for the first time in her life, she is afraid for their safety.
“It hit me this week when my friend sent me photos and a video of a group of masked white supremacists trying to get on the T, here in my city”, explained Guzman to El Mundo Boston.
“As a parent of three Latino kids who are constantly using public transportation to get to school, their jobs or the Boston Public Library, I am very concerned if these type of people see them”, added Guzman, who’s parents are from Puerto Rico.
What Guzman was referring to was a group of nine masked white males, refusing to identify the group they were with, holding a counter-demo against dozens of people who had been protesting the conditions at the border and advocating for immigrants in Copley Square – across from the Boston Public Library.
About 60 people followed them out of the area chanting “Nazis Out!”, as the masked men responded with the “Roman Salute”, the gesture used in neo-fascist and neo-Nazi contexts that has been outlawed since the end of World War II in German, Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic.
As they tried getting on the Orange Line at Mass Ave., the men were trailed by protesters, catching the attention of Northeastern University cops who escorted them out of the station.
Bianca Diaz, a 29 year old Bostonian, born and raised in Roxbury, encountered what was going on as she was coming off the train at the Mass Ave station heading to work.
“It was scary, they were scary. I would have never thought I would see something like this in Boston. I only see these things on social media in other cities or states, but never did I think I would see that here”, said Diaz.
Diaz added that “people are really afraid. It seems to only get worse”.
Guzman is more specific.
“People of color are scared. For the first time in 45 years of living in Boston, I feel I have a target on my back just because I am Latina or if I happen to say something in Spanish,” added the bilingual Guzman.
After posting photos of the incident, which were initially reported on by Unicorn Riot @ UR_ninja on social media, Guzman started the hashtag #hispanicandafraid.
“So many of my friends and family were commenting on my posts that they too are afraid and concerned, especially for their children.”
Diaz, who has always thought of her city as a safe city is now on alert.
“I am concerned for my safety when I’m out in public. I will just have to be more aware of my surroundings and make sure I remain safe”, she adds.
“I never thought I would have to be scared in my own city – in 2019 – just because I am Latina. It is so sad”, added Guzman.
