Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, § 1 (2026)

Dispensing and suppressing unlawful assembly; arresting persons

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 1. If five or more persons, being armed with clubs or other dangerous weapons, or if ten or more persons, whether armed or not, are unlawfully, riotously or tumultuously assembled in a city or town, the mayor and each of the aldermen of such city, each of the selectmen of such town, every justice of the peace living in any such city or town, any member of the city, town, or state police and the sheriff of the county and his deputies shall go among the persons so assembled, or as near to them as may be with safety, and in the name of the commonwealth command all persons so assembled immediately and peaceably to disperse; and if they do not thereupon immediately and peaceably disperse, each of said magistrates and officers shall command the assistance of all persons there present in suppressing such riot or unlawful assembly and arresting such persons. For the purposes of this section, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst shall be considered to be a town.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 11 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1976–2022 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Abramms, 849 N.E.2d 867 (Mass. App. Ct. 2006).

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Commonwealth v. Abramms, 849 N.E.2d 867 (Mass. App. Ct. 2006). · cites it 21× “The conduct at which the statute is directed is set out in G. L. c. 269, § 1, as amended through St.”

Commonwealth v. Spearin, 846 N.E.2d 390 (Mass. 2006). · cites it 6× “We conclude that Spearin could not be convicted, as a joint venturer, of building destruction while unlawfully assembled because the applicable statutes, G. L. c. 269, §§ 1 and 7, do not apply to inmate riots occurring at county incarceration facilities, such as the house of…”

Commonwealth v. Garrett, 473 Mass. 257 (Mass. 2015). “140, § 131; and all BB guns would be required to bear serial identification numbers, G. L. c. 269, § 1 IE. Even more troubling, were we to read the gun control act as applicable to BB guns, all of the criminal statutes regulating the possession and use of firearms would apply to…”

Hopkins v. Medeiros, 724 N.E.2d 336 (Mass. App. Ct. 2000). “G. L. c. 269, §§ 1, 2. “19A. The intervention of a force which is a normal consequence of a situation created by wrongdoer’s negligent conduct does not break the chain of causation between the wrongdoer’s misconduct and harm which the wrongdoer’s conduct had been a substantial…”

Abraham v. City of Woburn, 408 N.E.2d 664 (Mass. App. Ct. 1980). · cites it 2× “1362, 1364 (1936) (suggesting it is “doubtful whether the activities and character of the mob must be such as would put in fear a man of reasonable courage”).”

Police Comm'r v. Lewis, 357 N.E.2d 305 (Mass. 1976). “186, § 14, and that, by failing to disperse rock throwers, the police officers did not fulfil their statutory duty under G. L. c. 269, § 1. Further, the tenants claim that the officials’ failure to perform their duty to protect the black residents from attack constitutes a…”

Commonwealth v. Baez, 678 N.E.2d 1335 (Mass. App. Ct. 1997). “) (sheriffs may direct the armed forces “to aid the civil authority” in case of a tumult, riot, mob, public catastrophe or natural disaster); G. L. c. 269, §§ 1 & 3 (1994 ed.) (sheriff may command assistance of “all persons present” in suppressing a riot or unlawful assembly,…”

Commonwealth v. Stacey, 4 Mass. L. Rptr. 263 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1995). · cites it 8× “Defendants Robert Stacey and Brian Ford each stand indicted on charges of rioting (G.L.c. 269, §1) and injuiy to property (G.”

Commonwealth v. Gonzalez (Mass. 2021). “The defendant was arrested on charges of murder in the first degree, G. L. c. 269, § 1; and possession of a firearm without a license, G.”

Mack v. Alves (D. Mass. 2021). “Background After a jury trial in Massachusetts Superior Court for Barnstable County in January, 2016, Mack was convicted of: (1) murder in the first degree in violation of M.G.L. c. 269, § 1, (2) home invasion in violation of M.”

Mack v. Alves (D. Mass. 2022). “Background After a jury trial in Massachusetts Superior Court for Barnstable County in January, 2016, Mack was convicted of: (1) murder in the first degree in violation of M.G.L. c. 269, § 1, (2) home invasion in violation of M.”

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