A protester stands behind anti-abortion signs at the Town Common during the Hopkinton Farmers Market on Sunday. PHOTO/JULIE BEAUCHEMIN

A verbal confrontation between a protester and a vendor at the Hopkinton Farmers Market on Sunday led to a police response.

At 12:54 p.m., Hopkinton Police responded to the Town Common after a caller reported he was assaulted while protesting. According to Interim Police Chief Scott van Raalten, officers took reports from the involved parties and a witness. No charges were filed.

Market manager Julie Beauchemin explained that the incident occurred between one of the market vendors and the protester, who was holding up signs advocating against abortion.

“It was actually two confrontations that happened with two of our vendors,” Beauchemin clarified.

In the first incident, one vendor who had a pro-choice sign at their booth brought it to where the protester was stationed and stood alongside him. The second, which escalated to confrontation, involved a vendor who was asking questions of the individual to understand his beliefs better, according to Beauchemin.

The protester allegedly pulled up a video of an abortion procedure on his phone and put it in the vendor’s face. A verbal escalation followed, and the police were called.

“Nobody was removed or arrested,” said Beauchemin. “We kind of let him stand there for the remainder of the market, and [he] left when we started to pack up.” She noted that the man arrived at the market close to when it opened.

Police did not provide the name of the protester, and Beauchemin said he had not been seen at the market before. According to his sign, the individual has some affiliation with an Oklahoma-based anti-abortion group known as Abolitionists Rising.

Beauchemin said she was “not happy” with the situation, adding that the market strives to be free of any religious or political statements. She also stated that the individual positioned themselves right behind the area where families like to sit on the green and listen to the local performers. He would ask people in attendance if they believed abortion was murder, she said.

“[Patrons] were clearly uncomfortable and left the market because of his presence,” Beauchemin remarked. She called the whole situation “very upsetting.”

The market manager recognized that the common is a public space and that members of the public have the right to assemble and exercise their right to free speech. However, the market strives to be an inclusive and safe space for all, she said.

Beauchemin worried that those with a personal history with abortion could find the protester and his sign upsetting. “We don’t want that,” she said.

In an email shared with the Independent, Beauchemin commended the vendors for their behavior during the incident. “Not one of us stepped out of line [Sunday] — you kept your cool, stood up for what you believe in and stood up for each other,” she stated.

“We have a wonderful community of vendors … who looked out for each other during this incident while also trying to support their own businesses,” Beauchemin stated in a follow-up. “They depend on the market for income to support their families, and a protest like this only deters shoppers, which hurts local business.”