Yes, while there major highways close, and there are ways to get close to the Essex st. area if you know some back streets, yet the area is congested with little parking, and you cannot park in the Atlantic ocean or the North river. Bridge street connecting to Beverly is or was one of the busiest in the nation. Used to have a lateral moving bridge.
and a MASSIVE showing of police presence
Yes, this is not Portland OR by far yet overall liberal.
Fourth, there were about three or four evangelist groups with amplifiers and microphones trying to save people. One lot was VERY aggressive, sort of condemning passers by, almost asking to get into a fight.
Yes, that one type of street evangelist you see, esp. in the age of cameras. Such were hit and run groups who, unlike Ray Comfort, have some preachers seemed to have a goal to purposely can incite ppl (and get on video, and gain fans). But they are not here to deal with the mess/
Perhaps you say brother Bob, who actually lives here about half the year, who rarely preaches (not a strong voice, but and when he does he is utterly sincere and straight forward), but who for decades here has been passively literally holding forth the word of life at most every major event, Bruins, Celtics, Red Sox, rock concerts, major parades, etc. but the grace of God.
Never ever asking for donations, not seeking glory for himself (he would object to my focus on him here), but a few years a man at Halloween whom some of the aforementioned preachers got angry came by and hit Bob on the side of the head, and did some internal damage.
Some time later, the police had a meeting discussing what to do with such, and someone later told Bob the he was brought up as a positive example (certainly visible, but costumes were not an issue) which help preserve the latitude that is typically given. And every police dept is different.
The situation has been better in recent years. Some other evangelists are honestly seeking to reach the lost, and engage with them, may God bless them. And the area certainly needs more if sent by God.
Sometimes there are also groups which are hardly preaching anything (like dream interpreters), but trying to make contacts. .
I recommend the breakfast diner in the middle of town and Boston Burger on the main street. I also recommend leaving early.
There is actually a lot to see. You can even take a train all the way to Rockport (it is!) from Boston, or boat trips from Salem Willows, which is a quaint free park etc. I have evangelized there years ago, by the grace of God, offering gospel tracts, though a PO tried to tell me I had to leave since the park was closed at 6. But since no one else had to cleave, I reasoned with him about selective enforcement.
But there are lots of stories, which would take a book to tell, to the glory of God (not the gory of satan). .