Statement of Boston Community Leaders
Boston is a City rooted proudly in the spirit of freedom and strength. We strive to be a City where our residents can express themselves, and engage in meaningful discussion and efforts to improve the most difficult issues in our society.
We recognize Boston's history and celebrate how far we have come, but we are acutely aware of the disparities that we continue to see today. We see them in outcomes in the foundations for success, from education and public health, to housing and jobs. Our city and state government and the agencies we represent are committed to being responsive and relevant, and to facilitating meaningful discussion.
We echo the sentiment of community leaders, elected officials, and clergy nationwide, calling for unity and peaceful demonstrations, and encouraging all to work together to create real, lasting change. Boston can continue a proud tradition of leadership and use this moment as an opportunity to recommit ourselves to uniting for a better Boston.
Cosigned:
Mayor Martin J. Walsh
Boston City Council President Bill Linehan
Boston City Councilor Michael Flaherty
Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu
Boston City Councilor Steve Murphy
Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley
Boston City Councilor Sal LaMattina
Boston City Councilor Frank Baker
Boston City Councilor Tim McCarthy
Boston City Councilor Matt O'Malley
Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson
Boston City Councilor Josh Zakim
Boston City Councilor Mark Ciommo
Senator William N. Brownsberger
Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz
Senator Linda Dorcena Forry
Senator Michael F. Rush
Senator Sal DiDomenico
Representative Carlo Basile
Representative Evandro C. Carvalho
Representative Daniel Cullinane
Representative Gloria Fox
Representative Russell E. Holmes
Representative Kevin G. Honan
Representative Jay Livingstone
Representative Byron Rushing
Former State Representative Marie St. Fleur
Sheriff Steven Tompkins, Suffolk County
District Attorney Dan Conley, Suffolk County
William Evans, Commissioner, Boston Police Department
John McDonough, Superintendent, Boston Public Schools
Michael O’Neill, Chair, Boston School Committee
Claudio Martinez, Vice Chair, Boston School Committee
Jeri Robinson, Boston School Committee
Michael Loconto, Boston School Committee
Reverend Jeffrey Brown
Reverend Gregory G. Groover, Sr., D.Min. Pastor, Historic Charles Street A.M.E. Church (Roxbury)
Reverend David Wright, Executive Director, Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston, Inc.
Father Joe White, Saint Vincent de Paul Parish
Father John Nazzarro, Executive Director, Salesian's Boys and Girls Club in East Boston
Reverend Laura Ruth Jarrett, Hope Central Church
Reverend Courtney Jones, Hope Central Church
Sister Nancy Braceland, CSJ, Casserly House
Father Richard C. “Doc” Conway
Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción (IBA)
Jorge Martinez, Sr., Executive Director, Project RIGHT, Inc.
Annie Kinkead, Mattapan
Michael Curry, President, Boston NAACP
Darnell Williams, President & CEO, Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts
Chris Jones, Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative
Alex Oliver-Dávila, Sociedad Latina
Paul Grogan, President & CEO, The Boston Foundation
Anabela Gomes, Brighton-Allston Improvement Association
Charlie Rose, City Year
Ali Carter, Brighton Main Streets
Rosie Hanlon, Jackson Mann Community Center
Galen Mook, Commonwheels, Allston
Paulo DeBarros, Director, Catholic Charities Teen Center at St. Peter's
Elias Monteiro, Director of Organizing, Dorchester Bay EDC
James Sullivan, Brighton
Abigail Furey, Brighton
Victoria Tolman, Brighton
John R. Cusack, Allston
Michael Franks, Brighton
Andrew Slade, Allston
Angela Holm, Brighton
Patrick Murray, West Roxbury
Carol Ridge-Martinez, Executive Director, Allston-Brighton CDC
Valerie Frias, Associate Director, Allston-Brighton CDC
Jason Desrosier, Community Engagement Coordinator, Allston-Brighton CDC
