WHEN: Sat. April 26, 2025, 12 Noon
WHERE: The Embrace on Boston Common
We invite you to stand with us as we honor a pivotal moment in history and reaffirm our commitment to freedom and human dignity. The year 2025 marks the 60th Anniversary of the 1965 Freedom Rally, when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ruth Batson, Alan Gartner, Reverend Virgil Wood, and Dr. Ralph Abernathy led over 20,000 people to march on Boston Common in protest of racial inequities in housing and schools.
On Saturday, April 26, 2025, we will gather once again on Boston Common to continue the fight for equality and justice. Join us and stand together in hope and action. This is your moment to prove that Boston remains a powerful force for freedom, just as Dr. King envisioned.
As a part of the day, in partnership with Everyone250, we will host a special presentation with the City of Boston to name the Charles Street entrance to The Boston Common (located on the corner of Boylston St. and Charles St.) "1965 Freedom Rally Square,” honoring Boston’s vibrant and enduring legacy of freedom and activism. Join us at the Corner of Boylston St. and Charles St. (opposite 111 Boylston St.) at 11:00am prior to the commencement of the rally to welcome this historic marker for the city of Boston.
Embrace Boston’s top priority is to ensure a safe and welcoming gathering space for everyone, with special consideration for our most vulnerable Beloved Community members. As we prepare for our rally on the 26th, we are partnering with the Boston Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, private security, The Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement, the ACLU, and MIRA, among many other organizations, to ensure a safe, non-violent, and non-criminalizing event.
If you notice any concerning behavior or potential threats to safety during the rally, please report it to a public safety official. Boston is a powerful force for freedom and human dignity. Let’s honor that legacy and move forward. together. Stay tuned for details on how to retrace the culminating steps of the community members who took a stand for justice in 1965.
If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to communications@embraceboston.org