Letter: Memorial Day Violence Must Be Dealt With

Dear Editor,

This past weekend, South Boston was taken over by violence and roving mobs at Moakley Park, the McCormack Bathhouse, and the southern-most portion of Carson Beach.

On Sunday, a 12 state soccer tournament took place at Sanders Stadium. I don’t know the details of the tournament, but I personally observed hundreds of police cars responding to an “officer down” call in the vicinity of the stadium. On Monday, there was a continuation of violence – this time in the vicinity of JFK Station, down to the bathhouse.

Also on Monday, fighting erupted in the parking lots along Carson Beach, with mobs spilling into Moakley Park. As a result, South Boston Little League was forced to cancel games because it was not safe for the kids and families.

We all know it was an unseasonably hot Memorial Day weekend. We need to have a joint meeting with all parties having jurisdiction over the beaches and parks in South Boston, including State Police, Boston Police, Department of Conservation and Recreation officials, and Boston Park officials. We need to put a halt to the violence that occurred this past weekend. Our beaches and parks are for all the public to use, and we need to demand respect from all visitors. Those who don’t respect public space and are disorderly, no matter the number, must be dealt with by law enforcement.

We are just starting the summer season and we cannot have a repeat of Memorial Day weekend. It goes without saying that our kids and families need to feel safe playing sports in Moakley Park, and our families should be able to enjoy our beautiful beaches in peace.

-Bob Ferrara

Bob Ferrara is in District 2, which includes a portion of the South End.