On Friday, April 19, 2013, the small Boston suburb of Watertown was completely locked down. Governor Deval Patrick ordered that people stay in their homes and that businesses close, as droves of police and soldiers closed down the city. Roads were blocked off, vehicles were prohibited from driving on the roads. Trains, buses, and public transportation was shut down. Anyone caught on the streets would be accosted and searched without probable cause. A No-Fly Zone was imposed overhead. No civilians were allowed in or out of the lockdown zone. National guard soldiers were photographed checking pedestrians’ IDs on the sidewalks. The streets were empty, except for armored police vehicles and military Humvees.

Most disturbingly of all, were the systematic house-to-house raids performed throughout the town. SWAT teams swept the streets, raiding citizens’ homes one at a time. Homeowners would answer the door to officers with guns drawn and would be told to immediately exit the property with their hands up. Everyone from the homes would be “rescued” (forcibly removed) and searched as they came out of their homes, often barefoot and half-dressed. Police would then enter the property and begin their illegal searches.

Source: WHDH 7NEWS, BOSTON