Pols & Politics: 2 Boston Globe reporters attacked in Mass and Cass spillover hot spot

Two Boston Globe reporters were attacked in the South End while presumably attempting to review on the open-air drug region and violence that has spilled over from Mass and Cass into surrounding neighborhoods Pols Politics logo Boston Herald The Boston Guardian identified the two Globe staffers as Niki Griswold a reporter and Barry Chin a photographer while stating that the attack also involved two South End residents who were accompanying the journalists and took place near Rosie s Place on Harrison Avenue The overview was authenticated last week by the Boston Globe via an internal memo that was sent to the newsroom by Globe editor Nancy Barnes and published by Media Nation s Dan Kennedy The episode at Mass and Cass involving our journalists Niki Griswold and Barry Chin is understandably concerning to everyone who goes out on assignment in places that might be dangerous Barnes reportedly wrote in the memo The situation at Mass and Cass has evolved in new years and we are considering a requirement for anyone going there to have prevention which we will discuss with our reporting teams and the rest of the company According to the Boston Guardian whose reporting was based on a firsthand account by the two residents who were attacked the situation escalated when the Globe photographer began to take photos to document instances of open-air drug use in the area a known hot spot for Mass and Cass spillover When Chin started to take photos the residents explained a drug user approached them and started threatening them by swinging a cat s paw weapon a metal rod with nails sticking out of it the Guardian account states They managed to deter this person but as the Globe staffers continued taking photos the person got the attention of several others who the residents identified as dealers One of the residents informed the Guardian that the second man who confronted their group was much more threatening He demanded to take the camera requested us to delete the pictures Per the Guardian analysis one of the residents mentioned being able to fend off the attacker to give the group of journalists and citizens time to run and seek shelter so they could call the police GBH investigative reporter Tori Bedford reacted to the Globe editor s internal memo on social media stating on X Here s chosen guard advice for taking photos and talking to people at Mass and Cass Don t openly carry a big camera and point it at people who don t want to be photographed and don t take photos of people especially faces without permission Bedford wrote Then-Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson had her phone snatched for taking photos at Mass and Cass two years ago The phone was grabbed from the then-councilor s hands while she was taking pictures around Southampton St a Boston police description states of Fernandes Anderson s recount of the August event The circumstance was captured on police bodycam footage that was obtained by the Herald In the video one woman in the area could be heard telling Fernandes Anderson Listen you was going to be taking pictures Barnes internal memo to the Globe newsroom states that the attack on its journalists has spurred the publication to contact Poynter and the Dart Institute about training for reporters covering protests or other points of contact And we will have a fuller conversation with our reporters and photographers who cover Mass and Cass and other trouble spots to discuss best practices for journalists in the weeks and months ahead Barnes reportedly wrote Related Articles Pols Politics Massachusetts Gov Maura Healey sees surging popularity in new poll Pols Politics Ex-Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson s photo taken down a week after her exit Pols Politics What s next for Beacon Hill Democrats after finishing early-term priorities Pols Politics Boston city councilors want an HBCU campus Pols Politics Secretary of State William Galvin has concerns about upcoming census The occurrence prompted Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn who commented he s been in touch with both South End residents involved in the Boston Globe attack to write an email to BPD Commissioner Michael Cox and Superintendent Robert Ciccolo on July I am writing to respectfully ask for a complete review to determine what happened and what led to the conditions for this assault and to significantly increase police presence in these impacted neighborhoods Flynn wrote in the email that was obtained by the Herald Those that were involved in the assault should be arrested and held accountable in court the councilor wrote We must have zero tolerance for violence and criminal activity in any neighborhood It is not safe in and around Mass and Cass any longer We need a new aggressive inhabitants safety plan to address the open drug use dealing and violent crime that is taking place there frequently Flynn who represents part of the South End added that he considers the situation at and around Mass and Cass to be a community soundness and citizens safety urgency