South Boston lawmakers are warning education leaders that public drunkenness and “out-of-control behavior” from high school and college students will not be tolerated at this weekend’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.
“As elected officials, we have given our full support to public safety officials to enforce the law and keep the community safe,” Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, state Sen. Nick Collins, and state Rep. David Biele wrote in a letter this week.
“We ask that you assist us in communicating this message directly to Boston-area college presidents and high school superintendents so they understand the public safety protocols in place for South Boston during the annual St. Patrick’s Day/Evacuation Day parade and the consequences for their students if they break the law,” their letter states.
The four elected officials sent their letter this week to Mary Bourque, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents and Rob McCarron, president of the Associated Independent Colleges and Universities of Massachusetts.
Flynn, Lynch, Collins, and Biele assembled a task force after 2024’s chaotic St. Patty’s Day parade that met monthly to crack down on the associated violence and debauchery that has led to a slew of arrests at the event in recent years. A final public safety meeting ahead of Sunday’s parade took place on Monday evening.
The letter they sent to education leaders is aimed at fending off deviant student behavior at the event, which draws about a million visitors to South Boston each year.
“With parade day fast approaching, we want to remind visitors to South Boston that there will be zero tolerance for the out-of-control behavior that residents have endured in past years,” the South Boston lawmakers wrote.
“Our focus remains addressing the public safety and quality-of-life issues that created an unacceptable ‘anything goes’ atmosphere in previous years, including public drinking, violence and assaults that went viral on social media, unsafe rooftop gatherings, overcrowded roof decks, beer cans thrown at parade marchers, and public urination on residents’ property.
“The Task Force is committed to restoring the Evacuation Day and St. Patrick’s Day parade as a family-friendly event for seniors, persons with disabilities, children and families,” Flynn, Lynch, Collins, and Biele went on to state.
The lawmakers’ letter outlines changes that have already been made this year to cut down on crime and public drunkenness, including moving the starting time for Sunday’s parade to 11:30 a.m. and developing strategies “to address public drinking and underage alcohol smuggling on the MBTA.”
Outside law enforcement will supplement the city’s police presence at the parade, according to the letter, which mentions staffing challenges at the Boston Police Department.
Police will be stationed at key locations where “serious incidents have occurred in the past,” including the Medal of Honor Park, which houses the nation’s first Vietnam veterans memorial, the letter states.
The Boston Fire Department plans to enforce roof-deck capacity limits during the parade. The Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission and Boston Licensing Board have also committed to working with Boston Police, bars and package stores to prevent underage booze sales this weekend, the letter states.
The lawmakers also reference the particular focus on this year’s parade, where the route has been reversed to mark America’s 250th birthday and coincide with the historic route that was used during the British evacuation of Boston.
“The parade honors a consequential victory of the American Revolution while recognizing the service and sacrifice of our veterans, military families, first responders and our proud immigrant heritage,” the South Boston lawmakers wrote.
The St. Patrick’s Day parade honors both the city’s Irish community and Evacuation Day, a Suffolk County holiday.
Drunken fights and destruction at the parade two years ago led Flynn to float the possibility of moving the parade, now in its 123rd year, out of South Boston.
Flynn told the Herald last month that he is still open to the idea, and plans to evaluate his position on the parade’s future each year, based on whether the conduct of attendees is respectful to South Boston veterans and military families.
“Our message to visitors to South Boston’s parade is simple. Please show courtesy and respect for residents, veterans and military families, our dedicated first responders, and our nation’s history,” the South Boston lawmakers wrote. “Follow the golden rule — if you would not do it back home, do not do it here.”
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