It may not have been forty thousand people who did not realize they were objecting to a big lie, but the reports about this event indicate that they were.  The event was promoted as a “Free Speech Rally.”  How can any American who believes in the Constitution object to that?  The organizers did nothing or said anything to suggest it was organized by or supported by neo-Nazis, white supremacists, the KKK or other right-wing hate groups.  Nevertheless, the left-wing counter protest organizers reach that unsupported conclusion, most likely because the rally was organized by conservatives, and used the false narrative to bring out the counter protesters. They were duped, but what the heck. It was a nice day in Boston to stroll on the Commons and help boost ridership on Boston’s MTA.