Riley Dowell, the 24-year-old daughter of U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, was arrested over the weekend during a clash at the “National Men’s March,” an anti-abortion event taking place in Boston. Boston 25 News reported that Dowell was arraigned on Monday facing charges of disorderly conduct and interfering with lawful assembly, after allegedly blocking the march in Kenmore Square.
According to Boston 25 News, this is not the first time Dowell has been in legal trouble. In January of 2023, she was arrested for assaulting a Boston police officer and defacing a public monument with spray paint. She was sentenced to a year of probation, requiring her, to write a letter of apology to the assaulted officer.
Her mother, Rep. Clark, who is the No. 2 Democrat in the U.S. House, responded to the incident with caution and respect for due process, stating, “Every American has the right to protest and stand up for their beliefs, but they must do so responsibly and peacefully.” This statement was provided to Boston 25 News as the event began to draw more public attention.
The “Clown March,” a counter-protest to the anti-abortion rally, saw multiple arrests, including Dowell’s. Tensions elevated when the protesters were seen on the Boston Common; and by around noon, the Boston Police said that at least five counter-protesters were arrested for assaulting a police officer, according to MassLive. Details pertaining to the nature of these assaults, or if they were connected to Dowell’s actions, have not been fully clarified.
Boston’s Parkman Bandstand became a fortified point of contention as barricades were set up before the marchers arrived, signaling the brewing conflict between the two ideologically opposed groups. In total, the Boston Police reported that at least nine people were arrested in relation to the weekend’s events. The developing story continues to unravel as the community and the nation watch to see the ramifications these actions will have on the pressing debate of abortion rights and public demonstration.
