THIN BLUE LINE DOES BOSTONIANS PROUD

While the world looked on expecting the worst, Boston’s finest demonstrated the very best of our great city.

The local police officers who were faced with the daunting task of maintaining order while a sea of 40,000 protesters showed up to confront a few dozen so-called “alt-right” rallygoers demonstrated the highest level of professionalism in the face of an increasingly tense national political environment. But what else would we expect from our dedicated men and women in blue?

While most of us enjoyed a nice Saturday at home or spent time relaxing with our family and friends, more than 500 Boston cops stood their ground on the Common while many of them were subjected to the most vicious slurs protesters could come up with and others were pelted with bottles and rocks.

But despite being severely outnumbered, our local authorities showed that like so many officers nationwide, Boston cops are prepared to pay the ultimate price to protect our citizenry. And with

national media pressure building in the aftermath of the terrible crisis in Charlottesville, Va., our city leaders coordinated a comprehensive plan to address what very well could have been an ugly, violent confrontation and worked to ensure it was executed without a hitch.

It was clear yesterday that the people of our city are grateful to Mayor Martin J. Walsh for his decisive leadership in not bowing to pressure from either the media or special interests. In the days leading up to yesterday’s rally, he showed that his focus is where it should be — on the best interests of our city.

And with tensions reaching a boiling point in cities nationwide, video footage of Boston residents protecting the very people they turned out to confront showed that the people of our city really get it and provided a blueprint for how to handle these kinds of events moving forward.

The counterdemonstrators who turned out to protest the kind of hate speech that many feared would be spewed from the Parkman Bandstand yesterday recognized that the people they hoped to confront had every right to gather peacefully. And though they disagreed with their message, they weren’t going to let them be attacked.

STAFF PHOTO BY NANCY LANE BOSTON’S FINEST: A Boston police officer tucks a flower into her safety vest while escorting marchers from Roxbury.

HERALD PHOTO BY JIM MICHAUD PLEADING THE FIRST: Scott Hannon of Cambridge, above and below right, wears military clothing with a message, and speaks about why he joined counterdemonstrators yesterday.

STAFF PHOTO BY CHRIS CHRISTO KEEPING THE PEACE: Police hold back protesters on Boylston Street, as they wait for Boston Free Speech Rally speakers to be transported from Boston Common.