What we're reading this week | The #FridayFive
We are deeply saddened by recent events and the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and all other Black Americans who have been unjustly killed. Our hearts go out to the families, friends and communities impacted by this incredible loss. Over the past few weeks we have also witnessed racial injustices experienced by Black Americans in public spaces and places. At the core of The Trustees’ mission is to preserve and protect, not just for some but for all. We are an inclusive and welcoming community committed to creating spaces for people of all backgrounds to access and enjoy. We remain steadfast in this mission to ensure that our spaces can be anyone’s place now and in the future.
VIDEO: WBUR Town Hall: George Floyd, An American Reckoning
WBUR, June 4
WBUR senior news correspondent Kimberly Atkins moderates a special WBUR Town Hall on race, justice, police practices — and a nation in pain after the death of George Floyd. Guests include Monica Cannon-Grant, founder of Violence in Boston, Rev. Willie Bodrick II, associate pastor at the Historic Twelfth Baptist Church and former Governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick. [Watch below]
Boston needs to adopt a planning equity standard
Boston Globe, June 4, by Members of the Boston City Council
The city of Boston faces unprecedented challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. The communities hit hardest by COVID-19 now face economic fallout that will exacerbate existing poverty, unemployment, and housing insecurity. The pandemic has forced us to sit down and contemplate how we move forward as one community. Yet the real consideration is how we will choose to stand up. As the tidal wave of anguish, pain, fear, depression, and rage at the horrific killing of George Floyd crashes in our beloved city of Boston, we must ask: How do we move forward without reflecting on our own policies? [READ MORE]
Amid Protest and Pandemic, Urban Parks Show Their Worth
CityLab, June 4, by Patrick Sisson
“The thing I tell people about parks and public spaces is they can be platforms for equity, and the events of the last week in America show the public realm is the essential platform for equity,” says James Hardy, Akron, Ohio’s deputy mayor for integrated development, who focuses on parks and public space. “Parks are as important as roads and bridges, they’re not something to get to later. They’re where people from different backgrounds come together and find themselves on equal footing.” [READ MORE]
Thousands Gather In Dorchester’s Franklin Park For Somber, Peaceful Protest
WGBH, June 2, By Saraya Wintersmith and Tori Bedford
Thousands of people rallied in Dorchester's Franklin Park Tuesday evening for a third consecutive day of Boston demonstrations against racism and police brutality. Despite the huge crowds, there were no significant conflicts between protesters and police. The event, organized by Boston’s Black Lives Matter group and the non-profit Violence in Boston, is part of a nationwide spate of demonstrations sparked by the recent deaths of three unarmed black individuals who have become rallying cries: George Floyd in Minnesota, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia. [READ MORE]
A guide to how you can support marginalized communities
CNN, May 30, by Harmeet Kaur
Being an ally -- a person who is not a member of a particular marginalized group but seeks to help end the oppression of those in the marginalized group -- is a constant process. Allyship can mean different things to different people, and it can be tough to know where to start. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are some ways that you can support marginalized communities. [READ MORE]
Thumbnail photo by Sahaj Bedi on Unsplash