It was a peaceful Mother’s Day at Revere Beach this past Sunday at 6 p.m.. Waves lapped against the sand, and the sun shone down on the North Shore families who’d come out to celebrate the warm May day.

Fast forward fifteen minutes, and over 100 people were brawling on the shore, according to police.

First two women started fighting. Then their boyfriends’ friends joined in. And it grew from there, Revere Mayor Dan Rizzo told NECN. Soon enough, Revere Beach was so chaotic that officers from multiple departments had trouble pushing through to break it up.

“It’s very busy down there because of the weather, and then one thing happens, and no one wants to leave,’’ Revere Police Sgt. Charlie Ovino told Boston.com. “It was extremely bad. We sent our prisoner wagon and it couldn’t even make it through.’’


Ovino said that an additional 300 to 400 people congregated around the fight, which made intervening in the melee more difficult for police officers. Every officer on call in Revere and East Boston was on hand. Officers from Lynn, Chelsea, MBTA Transit, Boston, Winthrop, Everett, and the state environmental police were also on the scene trying to restore order, Ovino said.

The brawlers threw bottles and rocks at each other, as well as at police. In all, 12 people were arrested, according to Rizzo.

“Any arrests from yesterday’s clash on Revere Beach will likely go to Chelsea District Court, with more serious cases being arraigned today and minor ones possibly being summonsed in,’’ said a spokesman from the Suffolk County’s district attorney’s office.

Nothing like a sprawling fight to make Mother’s Day truly special.