Free Republic

Protesters jammed Beacon Street in front of the Massachusetts State House today chanting “End the shut down now,” and calling on the governor to remove restrictions on businesses and individuals in response to the coronavrus pandemic. The crowd, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, spilled into Beacon Street prompting cops to shut down vehicle traffic in the area. “The country is being shut down and its really hurting a lot of people and causing more devastation than we realize,” said Stoneham resident Susan Dawson. “Businesses, people are losing their livelihood.”

The Boston Fire Department is currently battling a 9-alarm fire in the 200 block of Beacon Street in the Back Bay. At least five firefighters have been injured, according to The Boston Globe: Nick Martin, a Boston EMS spokesman, said two firefighters had been transported to Brigham and Women's Hospital, while three others were being evaluated at the scene. It wasn?t clear whether other firefighters might also be injured. Channel 7 reports: Source tells me 2 firefighters suffered 3rd degree burns, 1 went into cardiac arrest, and 1 was reported missing