Boston, October 21, 2025
News Summary
Tens of thousands gathered in Boston Common for the “No Kings” protest, a demonstration against the Trump administration. Despite the peaceful nature of the event, misinformation quickly spread online alleging the broadcast used old footage from a similar protest in 2017. Verification efforts revealed that the footage was, in fact, from the day of the protest. Attendees included community organizations and local political figures, highlighting a coordinated response to federal policies across Massachusetts.
Boston
Massive peaceful protest in Boston met by rapid spread of misinformation
Tens of thousands gathered at Boston Common for the “No Kings” protest on October 18, 2025, a peaceful demonstration against the Trump administration that featured visible signs of disapproval toward the president. The event drew broad attention on the day and was captured by drone and helicopter footage while local news stations provided live coverage. Hundreds of protests took place across Massachusetts, including locations such as Worcester, Natick, and Lowell, on the same day, reflecting coordinated activity statewide.
Misinformation claim and verification
Following the event, a widely shared claim alleged that a national broadcast had aired recycled footage from a similar 2017 protest. The claim gained traction, racking up 15,000 likes and thousands of shares on social media platforms, amplifying questions about the authenticity of the images. Grok, an AI chatbot developed by xAI, mistakenly identified the footage as being from 2017 and perpetuated misinformation that fueled these claims, which contributed to rapid online circulation.
Independent verification examined the broadcast footage and contemporary drone and local coverage from the event day and found that the footage was recent and displayed distinct differences from the 2017 event. Reverse image searches and timestamp analyses found no instances of the 2025 footage prior to October 18, 2025, supporting the conclusion that the visual material originated on the day of the protest.
Who attended and how the event unfolded
The protest was headlined by Michelle Wu, the Mayor of Boston, who emphasized inclusion and historical resistance to authoritarianism. Attendees included people of various ages and members of community organizations, including the ACLU and the Massachusetts Teachers Association. Prominent political figures, including U.S. senators and congressional representatives, attended and voiced opposition to current immigration policies and actions by the Trump administration.
The atmosphere at Boston Common combined political protest with creative expression: participants displayed themed signs and costumes, engaged community booths, and used humor and art to counter narratives that protests are violent. Boston Police maintained a presence during the event but did not make any arrests, indicating the largely peaceful nature of the gathering.
Impact and broader concerns
Organizers, participants, and independent analysts noted that the rapid spread of inaccurate claims underlined how quickly social media and automated tools can amplify errors. The incident highlighted concerns about public trust in technology perceived as authoritative, and the potential for automated systems to propagate mistaken identifications at scale.
On a statewide level, the synchronized protests in cities such as Worcester, Natick, and Lowell reflected a coordinated response to federal policies, with local groups organizing demonstrations that ranged from small neighborhood gatherings to larger city-center events.
Next steps and verification practices
After verification teams matched drone footage and local reporting to the October 18 coverage, social platforms and community groups increased efforts to label or correct the misleading posts. The episode prompted renewed calls for verification checks, clearer labeling of sourced footage, and cautious use of automated identifications in public-facing systems.
FAQ
Q: What was the main event on October 18, 2025?
A: Tens of thousands gathered at Boston Common for the “No Kings” protest on October 18, 2025.
Q: Were there related protests elsewhere?
A: Hundreds of protests took place across Massachusetts, including locations such as Worcester, Natick, and Lowell, on the same day.
Q: How did misinformation spread?
A: The claim gained traction, racking up 15,000 likes and thousands of shares on social media platforms.
Q: Did AI play a role in the misinformation?
A: Grok, an AI chatbot developed by xAI, mistakenly identified the footage as being from 2017 and perpetuated misinformation that fueled these claims.
Q: Was the footage verified as new or old?
A: Reverse image searches and timestamp analyses found no instances of the 2025 footage prior to October 18, 2025.
Q: How did law enforcement respond at the event?
A: Boston Police maintained a presence during the event but did not make any arrests.
Quick reference
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | October 18, 2025 |
| Primary location | Boston Common, Boston |
| Estimated attendance | Tens of thousands |
| Statewide activity | Hundreds of protests took place across Massachusetts, including locations such as Worcester, Natick, and Lowell, on the same day |
| Verification outcome | Reverse image searches and timestamp analyses found no instances of the 2025 footage prior to October 18, 2025; independent verification matched footage to same-day drone and local coverage |
| Social media impact | The claim gained traction, racking up 15,000 likes and thousands of shares on social media platforms |
| AI involvement | Grok, an AI chatbot developed by xAI, mistakenly identified the footage as being from 2017 and perpetuated misinformation that fueled these claims |
| Law enforcement | Boston Police maintained a presence during the event but did not make any arrests |
| Headline organizer | Michelle Wu, the Mayor of Boston |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- NBC Boston
- Wikipedia: Protests in the United States
- WHDH
- Google Search: No Kings protest Boston
- Boston Herald
- Google Scholar: Boston Common protests
- MassLive
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Protest
Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
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