The groups We Are the Ones and the Tufts Pan African Alliance organized a rally starting in Mattapan Square on Saturday May 2nd. About one hundred people eventual joined but when I first got there the organizers were nearly out numbered by local media. In response to the events in Baltimore the Boston television news channels have dramatically increased their presence at the various public rallies and marches.
The coverage of the Freddie Gray murder and the aftermath in Baltimore have demonstrated some of the worst traits of the mainstream media: lying about black murder victims on behalf of the police, valuing property over human lives, racially tinged language, and inflammatory nonsense (just to cite a few examples).
At the start of the rally, the first organizers to speak made it clear that the Boston media wasn't welcome and that the only media they would speak to would be from one of the community newspapers supportive of the movement. They pushed away a few television news reporter's microphones and cleared out a space for participants and community members to speak. They said they wanted to have this event for people in the community.
Two of the organizers confronting local media
The television cameras backed off a bit, one of the cameramen whined to "Well, if they don't want me to cover it, I won't cover it." Most of the television crews stayed for the speakers at the beginning of the event but left by the time the group started marching.
Later during the march I overheard a few media members complain to a police officer "How can they have this protest without a permit?" They seemed annoyed they had to cover the rally, probably upset that no one was rioting.
The march started up Blue Hill Avenue from Mattapan Square with about one hundred protesters and about twenty police officers on bike or motorcycle in tow. They handed out flyers and "Know Your Rights" cards from the ACLU in Massachusetts. Part of the goal of the days action was to get more people from the community involved and active. From the start of the march, organizers tried to keep people on the side walks as not to disrupt people going about their day.
Local labor groups have been participating in a lot of the events I've been to, pretty much since the beginning. During one of the stops during march, a local SEIU chapter leader spoke briefly about labor's support of the movement.
The march stopped to help a local community group clean up a small park
One of serval organize labor representatives
Protesters took over the intersection at Morton Street for a few minutes for a moment of silence
Motorcycle cop in the intersection while protesters block traffic
Protesters leaving the intersection and continuing the march
By the time the march made it to Warren Street, they abandoned the sidewalks and took to the street for the rest of the walk to Dudley Square.
Marchers stopped in the street with hands up
"Black Queer Lives Matter" sign
1st grade school teacher with sign
Dudley Square bus terminal where the march and protest ended