SWAMPSCOTT — A Hyde Park man was issued a 100-yard “stay-away” order by a judge after an incident earlier this month in which he and other protesters allegedly discarded a number of what they said were used needles on Gov. Charlie Baker’s lawn.
Massachusetts First Lady Lauren Baker testified during a virtual hearing Monday that the large protest in front of the governor’s Swampscott home got unruly when the demonstrators allegedly encroached on the Bakers’ front lawn, according to WHDH-TV, Channel 7, Boston.
“I did learn that they had discarded a bunch of which they claim were used needles that they picked up from ‘Methadone Mile’ and discarded them right in front of our house in front of the front door,” Lauren Baker said. She said the incident was “incredibly frightening” and said she was left to pick up the needles by herself.
Baker also requested a restraining order against Domingos DaRosa, 43, of Hyde Park, who appeared to be the leader of the group of protesters.
“I’m afraid that it’s going to create some sort of physical harm to me or my family,” the first lady added.
The judge came back with a harassment order against DaRosa for one year. DeRosa, who has since appealed, said he’d exercised his right to free speech to protest the lack of action taken on Methadone Mile.
“We were exercising our First Amendment rights; the needles were a prop,” DaRosa said. “This is a public-health crisis our officials neglect.”