Protesters gathered Thursday afternoon in Boston mayor Michelle Wu’s city hall office, looking to push the mayor to rename of Faneuil Hall.Activists say the Boston landmark’s namesake, Peter Faneuil, was a slave owner and trafficker.Approximately 30 people staged a peaceful sit in the mayor’s office and said they planned to camp out there until they get a meeting with Wu or until they’re arrested. The advocates are accusing the mayor of reneging on a campaign pledge to advance a hearing to change the name of the Boston landmark.Faneuil Hall is a historical site in the city of Boston where the nation’s first town meeting took place. The 280-year-old building is also a popular tourist attraction, anchoring a normally busy shopping and dining area.The group, led by three Boston ministers, has been lobbying the mayor and city council to host a public hearing on this matter to no avail. Last summer, demonstrators staged a brief, silent, sit-in during a regularly-scheduled Boston City Council hearing.At the time, protesters said they were optimistic that Wu and the Boston City Council would be receptive to the name change.In October, the three members of Boston’s clergy chained themselves to the doors of Faneuil Hall, engaging in non-violent civil disobedience to draw attention to the controversial issue.City Hall was closed at 5 p.m. Thursday, but the protesters were allowed to remain inside the building until approximately 9 p.m., when arrests were made. WCVB reached out to Boston mayor Michelle Wu’s office multiple times for comment, but never heard back.
Protesters gathered Thursday afternoon in Boston mayor Michelle Wu’s city hall office, looking to push the mayor to rename of Faneuil Hall.
Activists say the Boston landmark’s namesake, Peter Faneuil, was a slave owner and trafficker.
Approximately 30 people staged a peaceful sit in the mayor’s office and said they planned to camp out there until they get a meeting with Wu or until they’re arrested.
The advocates are accusing the mayor of reneging on a campaign pledge to advance a hearing to change the name of the Boston landmark.
Faneuil Hall is a historical site in the city of Boston where the nation’s first town meeting took place. The 280-year-old building is also a popular tourist attraction, anchoring a normally busy shopping and dining area.
The group, led by three Boston ministers, has been lobbying the mayor and city council to host a public hearing on this matter to no avail.
Last summer, demonstrators staged a brief, silent, sit-in during a regularly-scheduled Boston City Council hearing.
At the time, protesters said they were optimistic that Wu and the Boston City Council would be receptive to the name change.
In October, the three members of Boston’s clergy chained themselves to the doors of Faneuil Hall, engaging in non-violent civil disobedience to draw attention to the controversial issue.
City Hall was closed at 5 p.m. Thursday, but the protesters were allowed to remain inside the building until approximately 9 p.m., when arrests were made.
WCVB reached out to Boston mayor Michelle Wu’s office multiple times for comment, but never heard back.
