Israel supporters stand and wave flags and hold placards while listening to speakers during a rally in in Cambridge, Massachusetts, May 3, 2024 (Photo: Vincent Ricci / SOPA Images via Reuters)
A pro-Israel rally outside of Boston, Massachusetts turned violent on Thursday when a man wearing a Palestinian flag pin was shot during the event after tackling one of the attendees.
A video of the incident, which took place in Newton, showed the pro-Palestinian man confronting the pro-Israel crowd, accusing them of supporting genocide, as the group shouted back. The man then rushed across the street and assaulted Scott Hayes, one of the demonstrators.
🚨BREAKING🚨
A man wearing a Palestinian pin was shot in the stomach this evening after he charged through traffic and tackled a pro-Israel Iraq war veteran in Newton, Massachusetts.pic.twitter.com/Ix5JEJaJNp
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) September 13, 2024
Hayes, a 47-year-old Iraqi War veteran, and a resident of Framingham, was arrested and charged with assault and battery and scheduled to be arraigned in district court on Friday.
According to Marian Ryan, District Attorney of Middlesex County, words were exchanged between the demonstrators and counter-protestors on the opposite side of the street, escalating into a physical altercation.
“A scuffle ensued. During that scuffle, the individual who had come across the street was shot by a member of the demonstrating group,” Ryan said during a news conference.
A GoFundMe page was established to assist with his legal costs. The site states: “Scott was wrestling with him when a gun went off. As soon as Scott noticed his assailant was hurt, he provided emergency medical treatment.”
According to the page, Hayes is not Jewish but is an ardent defender of Israel’s right to self-defense and self-determination, as well as defending Jewish people throughout the United States and New England.
Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller said the altercation was “frightening” and that the results of the investigation will be shared with the public. She also informed residents that additional police patrols will be provided at houses of worship over the coming days.
The Anti-Defamation League’s New England branch said the decision to charge Hayes before an investigation was cause for concern.
“We encourage Newton Police and the Middlesex District Attorney to conduct a thorough investigation of the entire incident. We are concerned about escalating tensions and remain in contact with law enforcement and community officials,” the ADL branch said.
The war in the Gaza Strip and the plight of hostages abducted by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorists on Oct. 7 have inflamed passions in many larger American cities, with violence pervading some demonstrations.
