Mayor Walsh, Residents Start Conversation On Race In Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- In Boston, an honest and open conversation on racism is taking place.
"So, what are we going to do about the stereotypes that run through our society that are hurtful and inaccurate?," asked one participant.
On Saturday, more than a thousand people of all races and religions packed the Emerson Majestic Theater to take part in the Resilience & Racial Equity event, led by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.
"We have disparities in race, education and healthcare. We are here to break the tension and you can feel it in the room today," Mayor Walsh said.
People young and old took part in the dialogue through speeches and open mic. The conversations centered around racism in Boston and how people of all races need to speak and work together in order to move forward.
On top of the agenda was equality and safety for all citizens, no matter their skin color.
"Since the day I was born, the color of my skin has affected how other people view me and how I view myself," one student said.
Mayor Walsh says at a time when there is a lot of unrest throughout the country, now is the time to speak about racism. The purpose of the event was not necessarily to find solutions, but to simply open up the conversation to see where the city of Boston stands when it comes to race.
"We are here to talk to people in the spirit of openness and it's not about judging, but learning from one another," Mayor Walsh said.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports
