Thank you for standing with us this past Saturday to honor the 1965 Freedom Rally when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led that historic march from Roxbury to the Boston Common 60 years ago.
WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE (courtesy of NBC10 Boston)
Reflecting on the day, Embrace Boston CEO & President Dr. Imari Paris Jeffries shared "We’ll measure success by how this moment sparks future ones — how many young people learn this history, how many new voters are registered, how many organizations commit to real equity work, and how many people leave knowing their power and using it.”
We began the morning at Trinity Church, with the march powered by ACLU Massachusetts, Mass 50501, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Indivisible MA, set the tone for the day. Boston Children’s Chorus led the way through song.
Together with the City Of Boston and Mayor Michelle Wu, we unveiled and dedicated the new 1965 Freedom Rally Square at the corner of Boylston and Charles Streets — a permanent landmark honoring Boston’s role in the fight for civil rights. From there, we marched to Boston Common and gathered at the Parkman Bandstand to rally for the future.
Throughout the afternoon, the Parkman Bandstand came alive with energy. Our speaking program, guided by Tevin Wooten of NBC10 Boston, reminded us of the power of community and vision. We were inspired by the voices of Boston’s own Zakiyyah Sutton and accompaniment by Jesse Taitt as they led us in “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Rev. Willie Bodrick II grounded us with a powerful invocation and historical reflection, and we were honored to hear from leaders like Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, State Senator Liz Miranda, United States Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Mayor Michelle Wu, Dr. Michael Curry, Shaplaie Brooks, Rahsaan Hall, Karen Kenyatta Russell, Dr. Lee Pelton, and our keynote speaker, Martin Luther King III. Performances by Beat The Odds and a moving call to action and pledge from Dr. Imari Paris-Jeffries, Embrace Boston Co-Chairs Rev. Jeffrey Brown and Tito Jackson and Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune helped close the rally with hope and commitment.
After the program, we gathered around our Collective Action Stations, where over twenty incredible partner organizations shared ways for us all to stay engaged, informed, and make change. And a huge thank you to our Bill Russell Legacy Partner restaurants — Park 54, Hue, Everybody Gotta Eat, Rhythm n Wraps, Estrella, and Rock City Pizza — for keeping our incredible volunteers fueled all day.
This day would not have been possible without the energy and heart of our community. Your presence mattered. Your voice mattered. Together, we not only honored the legacy of those who marched before us — we took a bold step forward in our own journey toward justice. We are deeply grateful to Everyone250, Embrace Boston, and the 175+ organizations, volunteers, artists, and advocates who made this day unforgettable. We are especially thankful for each of you who showed up — who marched, listened, danced, reflected, and pledged to keep building. Relive the powerful moments — check out photos from the march, rally, and celebration on our website and social media. Let’s keep this spirit alive. Together, we honor the past and step boldly into the future.
Our Collective Action Station Partners include:
826 Boston • A Year and A Day Foundation • ACLU Massachusetts • Black Girl Environmentalist • Boston Ujima Project • Citizens' Housing & Planning Association (CHAPA) • Clean Slate Initiative • Dunk The Vote 4ever • Ellie Fund • Friends of the Public Garden • Greater Boston Legal Services • League of Women for Community Service • Massachusetts Coalition Against Discrimination (MCAD) • MIRA Coalition • MassVote • Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) • Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts