SWAMPSCOTT — Punches were thrown at a Boxing Day pro-President Trump demonstration in Swampscott Saturday, and police reported that three supporters of outgoing President Donald J. Trump had been charged with assault.
David Walbourne of Wareham reportedly threw closed-fist punches at both a man and a woman, striking the megaphones that they were holding and driving them into their faces, police said. This was done in direct view of a Swampscott Police officer, and Walbourne was charged with two counts of assault and battery in the presence of a police officer.
Another, Michael Ross, 29, of Beverly, was arrested on charges of striking a woman with a flagpole. According to police, Ross made contact with the victim’s arm as she attempted to block the strike. The woman declined medical treatment, police said.
A third man, Scott Marberblatt, 59, of Swampscott, intentionally coughed on a counter-protestor and was also charged with assault, police said. A Swampscott officer witnessed the incident and reported that he saw spit come out of Marberblatt’s mouth and land on the victim. He immediately separated the parties, and spoke with Marberblatt, who claimed that he was coughing accidentally.
Marberblatt initially attempted to leave the scene without identifying himself, but the officer was eventually able to get his information. A criminal complaint will be filed against him.
About 40 protesters faced off at the end of Monument Avenue in what has become a weekly clash between Black Lives Matter (BLM) demonstrators and supporters of Trump.
More than a dozen Swampscott police officers and State Police troopers stood along the demonstration’s perimeter and kept Humphrey Street traffic flowing as Massachusetts 4 Trump founder Dianna Ploss and BLM marchers traded jibes and taunts amplified by megaphones with both sides waving flags emblazoned with slogans.
Past demonstrations coinciding with the Nov. 3 election attracted many participants, prompting police to keep the warring sides separated.
Saturday, in keeping with past demonstrations, waist-high metal barriers were set up to help separate demonstrators and allow beachfront walkers and runners to move unimpeded.
Even after President-elect Joe Biden’s November victory, the event has not died down. The rallies have recently begun to draw a coalition of anti-Trump activists from Boston and the South Shore, who take a more contentious tone with the Trump supporters.
There were two other instances of arrests at the protests, both of anti-Trump counter-protesters.
On Nov. 19, police arrested Nathan Dinnall, 39, after he tried to take Ploss’ digital camera that she was using to stream the demonstration
On Dec. 12, Ernst Jean-Jacques was charged with assault and battery on a person 60 years or older, after he was accused of striking a Trump supporter who threw water on him.
The accusation has been cast in doubt by Jean-Jacques’ legal team, who claim that he was only attempting to grab the water bottle from the elderly woman’s hand, after she had initiated the altercation.
The demonstrations which have lasted for more than 37 weeks, are expected to continue next Saturday.
