Target: Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts
Goal: Create a race commission to take swift and substantial action to address ongoing racism in Boston.
In early July 2022 members of the white supremacist organization the Patriot Front marched down the streets of Boston, terrorizing the community and allegedly attacking a Black man named Charles Murrell – who was brought to Tufts Medical Center as a result of the altercation. Since the incident Black leaders and activists have called on Boston and Mayor Wu to “address the legacy of racism” in the city.
Black community leaders have called for “a continuous investigation” into how to address the threat from the Patriot Front as well as into Boston Police Department’s response to the white supremacist group during the incident. Kevin Peterson, founder of the New Democracy Coalition, has also called on Boston’s mayor to create a race commission to “assess where the city stands in terms of race and then through that propose plausible policy solutions,” according to Mass Live. Another community leader, Rev. Miniard Culpepper has called on Massachusetts’s representatives to adopt more robust hate crime laws in the state and to compile thorough data on incidents like the Patriot Front march.
It is critically important that elected officials throughout the United States listen to the calls to action being put forward by Black leaders and activists – like those in Boston – and take swift and substantial action to address the ongoing harms of racism. Sign here to call on Boston’s Mayor to listen to Black activists and create a race commission to address racism.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Mayor Wu,
On July 2nd, 100 members of the white supremacist group the Patriot Front marched through the streets of Boston and allegedly attacked Charles Murrell. This is just one more example, in a line of many, that show Black people are still facing harm and danger because of pervasive racism in the United States.
Black leaders and activists have called on you to create a race commission to “assess where the city stands in terms of race and then through that propose plausible policy solutions,” according to Mass Live. They have also called for “continuous investigations” into the threat of the Patriot Front and the Boston Police Department’s response to the white supremacist organization during the march.
The ongoing civil rights investigation of the incident and calling out racist organizations for their terror and bigotry is just a start. To create real and lasting change, officials throughout the United States must listen to the calls to action put forward by Black leaders and activists. Please do everything in your power to establish a race commission to address the continued presence of racism in Boston.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Ivan Radic
