Demonstrators rallying for change in solidarity with activists in Baltimore joined hands and formed a peace circle in the middle of a busy street Saturday afternoon, briefly blocking the intersection of Blue Hill Avenue and Morton Street in Mattapan for a moment of silence.
The peace circle came midway through a march that wound from Mattapan Square to Dudley Station. Organizers called it a community rally, and demonstrators stopped several times during the 2½-hour trek saying they wanted to “show love” to people. They helped volunteers pick up trash at a park where the city was holding a Boston Shines spring cleanup event, patronized a church where people were selling food and jewelry in the parking lot, and paused to listen to community members who came forward to speak.
Advertisement
“This is what it means to be alive,” said Sarah Simpson, 17, of Jamaica Plain, one of the demonstrators, during one of the gatherings where the group stopped to let people share their thoughts through a megaphone. “This is what it means to fight for your rights.”
The rally was announced in a post to Facebook by the group We Are The Ones. The crowd started small but grew as the demonstrators walked along Blue Hill Avenue, swelling to around 250 people. They walked on sidewalks for much of the demonstration as Boston police officers on bicycles pedaled alongside them, though protesters moved into the street for the last mile or so.
Many in the crowd lamented news media coverage of events in Baltimore, saying the spotlight focused more on the violence, rather than residents’ outrage and demands for justice.
“I’m not ashamed of the rebellion in Baltimore. I’m proud of the rebellion in Baltimore,” said Khury Petersen, 32, of Dorchester. “I hope there are more rebellions in this country. They stood up and fought back.”
Advertisement
Baltimore has been the site of rallies and riots after the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, who suffered spinal injuries after what the state’s attorney for Baltimore City called an illegal arrest on April 12. He died a week later, and six police officers involved in his arrest were charged Friday with felonies ranging from assault to second-degree murder.
Some expressed their anger at police in Boston.
Tony Van Der Meer, a University of Massachusetts Boston professor, took to the microphone and said he believed a Boston police sergeant caught waving a toy gun in the face of a man videotaping him Monday should be punished. The sergeant, Henry Staines, apologized Friday to the videographer, who has asked to be identified as Brother Lawrence and not by his full name to protect his identity.
Many demonstrators voiced support when Van Der Meer called for Staines to be disciplined.
“There must be a consequence,” he said. “If you’ll let them get away with that you’ll let them get away with more.”
Boston police are conducting an internal affairs investigation.
During the march, some chanted slogans like “Power to the people! The people have the power,” while drivers honked their horns in support. Some demonstrators held signs reading, “Black Lives Matter” and “Stop The Racist Killer Cops.” Others carried flowers.
Cards that read “Know Your Rights When In Your Car” were distributed among the crowd, and offered advice on what to do during a police vehicle stop.
Advertisement
Liz Ejaife, 24, and Jamila Green, 23, carried a banner advocating for justice and equality. Green said the march shows “there are people out there who care.”
As the event was beginning, Boston Police Superintendent in Chief William Gross said police planned to respect the First Amendment rights of the demonstrators. “We ask everyone to protest and dialogue respectfully,” he said.
The march was peaceful, and there were no arrests, according to police.
The Rev. Jeffrey Brown, associate pastor at Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury, spoke proudly of the young activists at the rally.
“They are part of a nationwide awakening,” he said. “They’re rising up to begin fighting for what’s right in our society.”
"No justice no peace" and lots of car horns honking in support down Blue Hill Ave @BostonGlobe pic.twitter.com/wHzRjgSKZf
— Evan Allen (@EvanMAllen) May 2, 2015
Crowd seems to be growing, about 200 maybe more now. Police escorting on bikes @BostonGlobe pic.twitter.com/knDZNRkEir
— Evan Allen (@EvanMAllen) May 2, 2015
Everyone in crowd holds hands then hugs. Now they're on the move again @BostonGlobe pic.twitter.com/k4gxRR5bLB
— Evan Allen (@EvanMAllen) May 2, 2015
Headed down Blue Hill Ave singing "You're all I need to survive" @BostonGlobe pic.twitter.com/EkFoiuuPQa
— Evan Allen (@EvanMAllen) May 2, 2015
"Black lives matter" -- Maybe 50 or 75 here but a little hard to tell @BostonGlobe pic.twitter.com/5XulhGEaXO
— Evan Allen (@EvanMAllen) May 2, 2015
Evan Allen can be reached at evan.allen@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @evanmallen.