Arrested pro-Palestine protesters now facing additional charges

Local News

The charges of inciting a riot — a felony — are being brought under a state law that prohibits the “promotion of anarchy.”

Twelve of the 13 pro-Palestine protesters who were arrested Tuesday at a rally that turned violent and left four Boston police officers injured have had their charges upgraded to include felony charges.

The arrested protesters allegedly “surrounded police cruisers, kicked vehicle doors, and resisted dispersal efforts” as officers tried to respond to an unrelated emergency three blocks away, according to a statement from Boston police. Some of the protesters also allegedly assaulted officers and ignited smoke devices and flares.

Seven defendants were arraigned Thursday in Boston Municipal Court, all of whom were initially charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and disturbing the peace, police said. They include Atalanta Carrig-Braun, 20, of Boston; Osama El Khatib, 26, of Watertown; Styx Hatch, 19, of Boston; Haley MacIntyre, 24, of Dorchester; Jacob Pettigrew, 22, of Malden; Gabrielle Smith, 28, of Cambridge; and Madeline Weikel, 27, of Watertown.

Carrig-Braun, Hatch, and Smith were also initially charged with interfering with a police officer, court records show.

All seven defendants have now been additionally charged with inciting a riot and ordered to stay away from Boston Common and Boston Public Garden, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Carrig-Braun, Hatch, MacIntyre, and Smith have also been charged with assault and battery on a police officer, with Hatch and Smith facing two counts each.

Additionally, El Khatib and Weikel have been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; El Khatib and Hatch have been charged with aiding escape from an officer; and El Khatib, MacIntyre, Pettigrew, and Weikel have been charged with interfering with a police officer, according to the DA’s office. Bail for the seven defendants has been set between $5,000 and $10,000 depending on the charges.

In delivering the new charges, prosecutors cited a Boston police review of Instagram posts from organizers announcing the march, The Boston Globe reported. A flyer posted by the group included an image of a burning police car and a quote from Abu Obeida, a Hamas spokesman who was killed by the Israel Defense Forces in August, police wrote.

The seven defendants pleaded not guilty at their arraignments Thursday and are due back in court Oct. 31, according to court records. Kylah Clay, a public defender representing these seven protesters, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday night.

Clay, an attorney for the National Lawyers Guild, told the Globe that the riot charge was “totally bogus” and said she would appeal the bail decision against at least one of the arrested protesters.

Five more protesters facing additional charges after Wednesday’s arraignments

Five more protesters who were arraigned Wednesday are also now facing additional charges after initially being charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and disturbing the peace, according to court records. Amun Prophet, 25, of Allston; Laith Hintzman, 19, of Boston; and Benjamin Choucroun, 20, of Medford are now charged with inciting a riot and interfering with a police officer.

Prahlad Iyengar, 25, of Boston, was initially charged with interfering with a police officer and now faces charges of inciting a riot, assault and battery on a police officer, and aiding escape from an officer, court records show.

Roder Atwood, 21, of Somerville, was initially charged with malicious destruction of property, assault and battery on a police officer, and assault and battery on a police officer causing serious bodily injury, according to court records. Atwood is now facing additional charges of inciting a riot, aiding escape from an officer, interfering with a police officer, and a second charge of malicious destruction of property.

These five protesters also all pleaded not guilty at their arraignments Wednesday and are due back in court Oct. 30, according to court records. Atwood’s attorney, Peter O’Karma, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday night.

The charges of inciting a riot — a felony — are being brought under a state law that prohibits the “promotion of anarchy.”

Atwood is facing additional felony charges for assault and battery on an officer causing serious bodily injury and malicious destruction of property.

Owen Woodcock, 26, of Boston, is initially charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and disturbing the peace but is not currently facing additional charges, according to court records. Woodcock was arraigned Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and is due back in court Oct. 30.