60th Anniversary Of 1965 Freedom Rally

The year 2025 marks the 60th Anniversary of the 1965 Freedom Rally. The rally took place on April 23, 1965, with over 20,000 people marching on Boston Common to protest racial imbalance in housing and schools. The march began at Carter Playground, at the corner of Columbus Avenue, and ended at Boston Common. Martin Luther King led the march from Roxbury to Boston Common.

In honoring this significant historical event, Embrace Boston and its partners are committed to upholding the principles of Festival Ecology for Social and Racial Justice. By integrating ideas of festival organization, sustainability, and equality, the commemorative march will serve as a transformative experience that celebrates the progress made since 1965 and highlights the ongoing fight for racial equity and justice.