We want to know: Is protesting outside the mayor’s home a step too far?
Tell us what you think of the protests.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and her neighbors were woken this morning by a group of demonstrators protesting the city’s vaccine mandate outside her home in Roslindale.
The group of five protesters — including Shana Cottone, a Boston police sergeant who leads Boston First Responders United — gathered outside the mayor’s home around 7 a.m to blare music and use a megaphone to chant, “Paging Dr. Wu.”
Since the vaccine mandate was put in place by Wu last month, some in the city have expressed their opposition to the requirements. The vaccine mandate requires that residents show proof of vaccination at indoor businesses like restaurants, bars, fitness centers, theaters, concert venues, and sports arenas.
Protests against the mandate have been ongoing. Earlier this month at the City Council inauguration, a group blared sirens and chanted, “Shame on Wu!” Mayor Wu has also spoken about racist messages she’s received from unhappy residents.
“Unfortunately, this isn’t something that I bear alone,” Wu said of the messages. “I know I can count on more than one hand the number of women of color, elected officials, in Massachusetts who have experienced similar hatred, similar protests at events. We won’t be intimidated from doing the right thing.”
The mayor isn’t the only Massachusetts politician who has faced protests at their home. Governor Charlie Baker’s home is often a site for protests, and last year New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said he had “aggressive” protesters at his home.
Wu’s neighbors were less than happy with Monday’s protesters, according to The Boston Globe. Kelly Gallagher, who lives in Wu’s neighborhood, called the protest at her home “disgusting.”
“You’re waking her kids up,” she said. “If you want to go protest, you can go to City Hall.”
Do you think protesting outside of Mayor Wu’s home is out of line? Are the protesters within their rights to picket the mayor’s private residence or should they stick to City Hall and other public forums? Let us know what you think about today’s protests by filling out the survey below or emailing us at [email protected] and we may feature your response in a future article.
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