Boston Free Speech Rally And Counter Demonstrations Start 12:00 P.M. ET; Boston Beefs Up Security For "Free Speech" Rally.
PAUL: 26 minutes past the hour. Thank you for being with us on Saturday. I'm Christie Paul.</s>BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. Good morning to you. In the wake of the violence in Charlottesville a week ago today, there are some serious concerns about Boston and what will happen there. That's where our so-called, we shouldn't just -- we shouldn't say so-called, it is a free speech rally; people come and speak freely, and that's actually the name of it. And there will also be a counter protest, not a far away. CNN Correspondent, Polo Sandoval, joins us now. Polo, what are the preparations there after the country watched what happened in Charlottesville?</s>POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly, a higher level of security, Victor. That's what we heard from officials. As for what we're seeing right now, I think the front page of this morning's Boston Globe best describes it. We're currently seeing the calm before the rally, that's because things are relatively quiet right now. But that is expected to change in a few hours as up to 100 demonstrators, according to organizers, are expected to make their way here to Boston Common for this so-called free speech rally. Organizers have invited "traditionalist, conservatives, Donald Trump supporters, and in their own words, anyone who enjoys the freedom of speech." The concern is that that could be seen as an open invitation for extremist groups, neo-Nazi groups, for example, a White Supremacist. So as a result, local officials here are fairly concerned. In fact, they are recommending that parents not bring their children anywhere near Boston Common, which is a place that's usually bustling with family activity on a Saturday afternoon. Today though, a very different kind of activity that has officials concerned as you're about to hear from Boston Mayor, Marty Walsh.</s>MARTY WALSH, MAYOR OF BOSTON: I don't want them here. Let me be clear, I do not want them here. If I could've not had them here without a permit, I actually would not have given them a permit if I didn't have to give them a permit. We don't need that type of rhetoric going on in Boston Common. We've come too far.</s>SANDOVAL: Guys, there is a counter protest that's also being organized. In fact, that's expected to be a little larger than what we are going to see here at Boston Common. That group, however, is expected to march about two miles to this location, and that's where the concern is for authorities. They're going to make sure that both sides don't necessarily mix here and stay on opposite ends, so as to not create an intense situation. As for what officials are doing to try to keep everybody safe here today, you may be able to make out some of those concrete barriers at the entrance of Boston Common. Those weren't yesterday, those are in place to try to keep any vehicles from making their way into the crowd, obviously something we saw a week ago today. People here, officials here, the city of Boston, hoping to prevent anything like that from happening, Victor. But as we heard from the mayor, they are looking forward to this thing being done with. Of course, this is not what they would like to see on a Saturday afternoon here in the heart of the city.</s>BLACKWELL: And what time is this scheduled to start, Polo?</s>SANDOVAL: Things are expected to kick off about noon. This is when the organizers are expected to begin this event. In fact, that's what the permit states. They only have two hours to be able to hold their demonstration and that's when we expect those counter-protesters to arrive here too, Victor, so we'll keep it a very close eye. But at this point, nobody has necessarily shown up, at least, not quite yet but it is early.</s>BLACKWELL: Well, we do remember, the Charlottesville event was scheduled to start at the noon, but the violence started in the 10:00 hour. So, we will watch that certainly. Polo Sandoval, for us in Boston. Thanks so much.</s>PAUL: And we'll show you what we're in Berlin, Germany. Neo-Nazis rallying there --