Photos of rally confrontation cause stir

BOSTON (WHDH) -- The Boston police department is coming under fire for an officer's actions at a Tea Party rally.

Pictures of the incident have caused quite a stir online, particularly one photo that appears to show a Boston police officer with his hands around a protester's throat.

Boston police now say they are reviewing officers' response to protesters at Sunday's rally on the Common.

The protester in the photo in question says he got into a confrontation with a Tea Party protester and was then approached by the officer who he says shoved him.

The protester then says he asked the officer not to push him, which is when the officer grabbed his throat.

The Boston Globe is reporting that the protesters rushed the stage at the event.

In a statement, Boston police said:

"The aggressive nature of these individuals required officers to call for numerous additional units to respond. The department supports the arrests made by the officers today. As a matter of routine procedure following a day of aggressive protests, the department will review all of the activity that took place..."

The man who posted the photos online says the protester who was allegedly choked was not arrested or even detained. Therefore, he says, he can't see the justification for the officer's aggressiveness.

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