Following the revelry and celebration of South Boston's St. Patrick's Day parade, the Boston Police Department found itself taking action against a number of attendees, arresting nine individuals and summoning four others to appear in court. The charges laid out by authorities ranged from minor in possession of alcohol, to assault and battery, bringing a forthright end to the spirited festivities for some, as reported by Boston 25 News.
The parade, which has a history that runs deep into the 20th century, coincides with the anniversary of Evacuation Day, remembering the day British troops vacated Boston in 1776, yet it wasn't without its modern-day interruptions; amongst the arrests, one individual, a juvenile, faces charges in addition to the 12 adults, while the seaward streets once bustling with parade-goers now once again hum with the usual traffic, as reported by Boston 25 News.
Notably, this year's police involvement comes as a response to prior parade incidents, including a violent altercation during the previous year's event that was widely broadcast across social media, showcasing a stark contrast to the parade's cheerful floats and historical reenactments. MassLive detailed the proactive steps taken this year in South Boston to curb the unsavory "anything goes" attitude that previously marred the celebrations.
Despite the arrests, the parade itself brought an outpouring of community spirit, with the streets of South Boston swelling with crowds clad in green, accompanied by a scatter of white and orange confetti to honor Irish heritage, a striking display seeing that over one-fifth of Bostonians have Irish ancestry, however the festivities were not without their disruptions which included an arrest of a "highly intoxicated" 26-year-old man last year found to be carrying a weapon, according to MassLive.
