‘We’re talking about the rights of people to be free’: Marty Walsh reflects on racial justice and Independence Day
The mayor spoke about the ongoing conversations heading into Fourth of July weekend.
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In light of the national conversations, protests and demonstrations surrounding racial justice, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh reflected Thursday on these developments heading into Fourth of July weekend.
“We are now 244 years into our American journey,” he said at a press conference Thursday morning. “Independence Day is a time to reflect on our history and our ideals.”
“This year we enter July 4th weekend already in conversation about fundamental issues,” the mayor said. “We’re talking about the rights of people to be free – free to speak, free to worship, free to thrive, unburdened by hunger, fear, racism or oppression. And we’re talking about our ability to act together as a community, against a common threat to all of those freedoms.”
Conversations surrounding racial justice were throttled to the forefront once more following the death of George Floyd, the Black man killed while being taken into custody by Minneapolis, Minn. police in late May.
Boston has seen many protests, marches and gatherings since that time. There are additional protests planned for the weekend.
This week, the city agreed to take down a statue of Abraham Lincoln with a Black man kneeling beside him. There’s also been an effort by activists to have Faneuil Hall’s name changed; Peter Faneuil profited off the slave trade and owned slaves until he died.
In his remarks, Walsh noted that the ongoing conversations and experiences aren’t easy, but they “are making us safer and better.”
“We will keep each other healthy and move closer to full equality,” Walsh said. “As long as we respond by not turning on each other, but turning to each other and by recognizing the rights of every human being to safety, dignity and freedom.
“That belief informs all the work that we do, and if we fight together for that idea, we will move forward as a stronger city and a stronger country,” Walsh said.
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