Racial Justice

Here’s what we know about the protests planned for the July Fourth weekend

In Boston, a “Say Her Name” march and rally will take place on Saturday.

Demonstrators marched during a Black Lives Matters protest in East Boston on June 13. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff

By Dialynn Dwyer

3 minutes to read

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As America celebrates its birthday this weekend with July Fourth, many people are planning to mark the holiday in the Greater Boston area by demonstrating against systemic racism and social inequities.

On Saturday in Boston alone, hundreds of people have indicated they plan to attend a protest and rally organized by Black Lives Matter Boston to recognize and support Black women. The “Say Her Name” march will begin in Nubian Square and make its way to Boston Common, where organizers say there will be a “celebratory rally.”

“There will be radical joy and dancing because, as Audre Lorde wrote, ‘it is better to speak/remembering/we were never meant to survive,’’ organizers wrote in the event description on Facebook. “Womxn hold up half the sky all over the world and have always been essential, yet Black womxn are too often overlooked, erased, and devalued. Show up for Black womxn. Support Black womxn.”

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Below, a look at some of the other demonstrations against systemic racism that are happening in the Greater Boston area through the holiday weekend.

Thursday, July 2nd

Friday, July 3rd

  • 4 p.m. in Providence, Rhode Island: A protest “Decarcerate, Divest, Dismantle!” will be held outside the Rhode Island state house. 
  • 5 p.m. in Quincy: Organizers of the “Quincy Chalk for Justice” event are asking participants to draw and write messages promoting awareness of racial inequities and systemic injustices in their own neighborhoods in the days ahead of the event and then gather outside City Hall Plaza on the eve of Independence Day. 

Saturday, July 4th 

  • 12 p.m. in Lynn: For the event “Occupy Wyoma Square!” participants will meet in the Manning Field parking lot at noon and march to Wyoma Square, which they will occupy for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in remembrance of George Floyd. 
  • 2:15 p.m. in Stoughton: A peaceful protest in support of Black Lives Matter will begin with a march from Faxon Park to Town Hall, where speakers will address demonstrators.
  • 4 p.m. in Boston: Black Lives Matter Boston is leading the “Say Her Name March & Rally.” The event, which aims to “to center and uplift the lives” of Black women, will begin with a march from Nubian Square to Boston Common and be followed by a “celebratory rally in the Common where we will share music, food, the arts.”

Sunday, July 5th

  • 8 a.m. in Brookline: A “peaceful demonstration” called ‘Wake Up Bernard Greene! No Justice, No Sleep; will take place outside the residence of Bernard Greene, chairman of Brookline’s Select Board, to demand a 50% budget cut to the Brookline Police Department. 
  • 10 a.m. in New Bedford: A family friendly rally, “Roll Out For Black Lives Matter,” is being held in Buttonwood Park. “Ride your bike, string up your skates, lace up your sneakers, dust off that skateboard, put your kids in strollers and let’s roll out for a good cause!” organizers wrote. “In observation of Cape Verdean Independence day let’s roll together for Unity, Love, and Change.”

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