Protesters reach wary acceptance of police role

When animal rights activists dressed as farm animals at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles four years ago, the police patrolling their protests barely cracked a smile.

But in Boston, officers chuckled appreciatively at one protester, dressed like a 7-foot carrot.

"Hands down, [the Boston police] are the most good-natured of any of the five conventions I've attended as an activist," said Bruce Friedrich of People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals, the "campaign manager" for president candidate Chris P. Carrot. "Police directing traffic are giving us a thumbs-up, police guarding places where we're standing are being sweethearts . . . This is the first time the police, to a person, have gotten the joke."

After several days of peaceful demonstrations, protest leaders and police -- once bracing for conflict -- have begun cautiously acknowledging one another's good points. Police Commissioner Kathleen O'Toole, who expects the largest protests today, said most demonstrations up to now have been orderly, in part because police and protesters have shared information about plans and procedures.

Other protesters, some of whom spent months preparing for confrontations with police, gave them mixed reviews. Several complained about the noise from police helicopters; at a festival on Boston Common yesterday, the sound sometimes drowned out bands onstage. Protesters responded by lying on the ground to spell out an obscenity.

But other protest leaders praised police. At a demonstration against prison abuse yesterday in Copley Square, tensions rose when two prowar demonstrators showed up. Police "helped defuse the situation, not escalate it," said United for Justice with Peace spokeswoman Jennifer Horan.

Gael Murphy of Code Pink, a women's peace group, said police have been mostly respectful. "Some have said 'I'm with you,' or 'What can we say? It's a job.' Some are willing to explain their perspective."

Boston police Sergeant Bill Fogerty, stationed at the FleetCenter, has seen all manner of protests and has been asked his opinions on world issues. "It's been a very interesting couple of days," he said.

Steve Kurkjian and Anand Vaishnav of the Globe staff contributed to this report.