Healey vows ‘zero tolerance’ for violent street takeovers, tells Trump to keep the troops away
Violent street takeovers in four Massachusetts communities and a pro-Palestine protest on Boston Common that saw demonstrators clash with police don't give the Trump administration an excuse to send National Guard soldiers to the Bay State, Gov. Maura Healey said Wednesday.
"There's no need for that here," the Democratic governor said during a news conference in her office at the State House. "Here in Massachusetts, local and state law enforcement work really closely and well together."
Healey batted aside a reporter's question on whether she was trying to get in front of any White House action with a news conference where she announced a "zero tolerance" approach to street takeovers, which are large gatherings where car lovers look at cars or engage in street racing.
The gatherings, coordinated over social media, sometimes turn violent.
"I can't control what the president and the Department of Justice decide to do," Healey said. "I will say that Massachusetts continues to be a place ... it's among the safest states in the country. It's also a place where we work really hard every single day at the local and state level, even with federal partners, to eradicate and address issues of public safety and crime. And we're going to continue to do that. And do it in a responsible way."
Trump has stepped up his use of National Guard soldiers, dispatching troops to Portland, Ore., and Chicago . They also could soon be sent to Memphis, Tenn., as the Republican White House intensifies its campaign against blue states and cities.
At least four communities in Massachusetts faced chaotic scenes as groups clogged up streets. In Boston, a police cruiser was set on fire after members of the group launched fireworks at it.
In Middleborough, a Dodge Charger drove at a police officer. In Fall River, a private ambulance was forced to take an alternate route as it attempted to get to a hospital. In Randolph, more than 100 people — most in masks, police said — attacked marked police cars with fireworks.
As she had earlier in the day during a memorial ceremony for fallen law enforcement officers, Healey offered a sharp condemnation of the gatherings and the protest on Boston Common.
Healey also said she'd asked the Massachusetts State Police to step up its existing enforcement and intelligence-gathering efforts to track and stop such gatherings.
"Whether you're in Massachusetts or you're thinking about coming to Massachusetts, you are not welcome to engage in that conduct at any time, in any place, anywhere in this state," she said.
Healey also asked state residents who become aware of such events to tell local law enforcement about it, repeating the by-now familiar "If you see something, say something."
"I just think about what happened [with the ambulance] in Fall River over the weekend, and that's why I'm so upset about this and want to make sure we're doing everything we can ... to end this trend. There's zero tolerance for this in the Commonwealth.don't
One of Healey's Republican rivals for governor in 2026 pounced on the street takeovers and the protest on Boston Common, accusing her and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu of being "soft on crime."
Healey and Wu "have an alarmingly high tolerance for violent crime and respect for criminals. Their rhetoric and policies continue to embolden criminals while undermining law enforcement," GOP hopeful Mike Kennealy, a former Baker administration official, said in a statement.
"It's disgraceful and completely unacceptable. When I'm Governor, we will restore law and order," Kennealy continued. "Bail will match the severity of the crime, and any act committed against a police officer will face the full force of the law. Enough is enough - Massachusetts deserves leadership that stands with law enforcement, not lawbreakers."
Brian Shortsleeve, another former Baker administration official who also is seeking the GOP nod for governor in 2026, was similarly scornful.
Healey "has spent her time protecting illegal immigrants, tying the hands of law enforcement, and prioritizing politics over public safety," he said in a statement. "This isn't leadership, it's lawlessness. As governor, I'll restore order, back our police, insist on bail reform and courts that serve justice not get out of jail free cards, and make Massachusetts a place where people feel safe again."
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