policy
Rep. Ayanna Pressley stayed in her district on Inauguration Day and “chose community over chaos” during an event honoring Martin Luther King Jr. in Roxbury on Monday.
Pressley announced earlier this month her intention to boycott the inauguration ceremony in Washington and as an alternative host a “Beloved Community Day” in Nubian Square. She also spoke on the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast early Monday morning, where Sen. Ed Markey also spoke as an alternative of attending President Donald Trump's inauguration.
Community members, local leaders and voters gathered on the Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building on Monday at 1:30 p.m. The MLK Day celebration included face painting, food and a message of hope as Donald Trump was sworn in as president nearly 400 miles away.
“Today's event is about reminding us all that the power to create transformative change has always rested with the people, regardless of who sits behind the desk in the Oval Office or who holds the gavel in Congress,” said Pressley of the gang.
Representatives from the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) and the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement joined Pressley to offer the opening remarks around 2 p.m.
Maroni Minter, a Gabon-born immigrant, spoke about two state legislative efforts to extend legal access for immigrants and protect immigrants' rights to hunt justice without being questioned about their immigration status. Trump has promised mass deportations of migrants on “day one.”
“Dr. King taught us the power of solidarity, and it is important that we recognize how racism, xenophobia and inequality are interconnected,” said MIRA’s Minter. “Together we must and will break down these barriers and build a society based on equity and inclusion for all, regardless of race, ethnicity or immigration status.”
Pressley invoked several of King's views, from selecting “community over chaos” to “accepting disappointment and holding on to hope.” She spoke of using King's example to “have the imagination to imagine a more just world, the strategy to make it happen, and the perseverance to see it through.”
Anne Rousseau, a Jamaica Plain resident and co-chair of the JP Progressives, said she fears Trump's upcoming presidency will push the country back right into a “racist” and “homophobic” society. But, Rousseau said, Pressley “always inspires me to show up.”
“I think it's important for her to speak her mind. I think it brings hope to people. She inspires people,” Rousseau said. “I choose to be in the community and I think it inspires a lot of people to do that.”
Kennann McKenzie-DeFranza, an elected member of the Beverly School Committee, came upon concerning the event through Pressley's mailing list. She said the event may very well be inspiring, especially on a day when some is likely to be disillusioned.
“I like seeing our young people here. I heard a lot about how young people felt frustrated and disinterested,” she said. “I hope events like this help them realize that you don’t have to do big, big things to show up and just participate.”
Speaking to reporters, Pressley said Trump's threats up to now have been “very predictable” but that she had not yet heard his inaugural speech.
“Dr. “However, King said it is important that we study the words of our oppressors to inform our strategy,” Pressley said.
image credit : www.boston.com