RALLY AND MARCH
SCHEDULE:
11:00 am: Meet at Parkman Bandstand
11:15 am: Kickoff speaker
11:25 am: March to City Hall Plaza
12:30 pm: Speakers at City Hall Plaza
CURRENT SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
Just added: Dropkick Murphys!
MC: Jean-Luc Pierite | President | North American Indian Center of Boston
Senator Ed Markey
Carol Rose | Executive Director | ACLU of Massachusetts
Chastity Bowick | Founder | Trans Resistance
Chrissy Lynch | President | Massachusetts AFL-CIO
Jaya Savita | Director | Asian Pacific Islander’s Civic Action Network
Jessica Tang | President | AFT-MA
Dr. Kylie Ariel Bemis | Rising Hearts
The federal administration thinks this country belongs to them—and that they’re above the law. They’re taking everything they can get their hands on—our rights, our health care, our data, our jobs, our services—and daring the world to stop them. But as Mayor Wu put it — two weeks after standing up for Boston’s immigrants in Congress and one week after Boston became a sanctuary city for the LGBTQ+ community —
“No one tells Boston how to take care of our own, not kings, and not presidents who think they are kings… God save whoever messes with Boston.”
On Saturday, April 5th, a coalition of Massachusetts resistance groups is taking to the streets to fight back with a clear message: Hands off! Because we will always protect our neighbors, regardless of their race, gender, sexuality, origin, background, status, disability, religion or lack thereof.
Massachusetts is ready to protect democracy—and we the people are ready to show up. We the People means EVERYBODY!
And we need your support to make this happen. Please help us rent the equipment we need to make this event as accessible to as many people as possible by donating here!
Co-Sponsors:
• Indivisible Mass Coalition
• Mass 50501
• Swing Blue Alliance
• UU Mass Action
• And many more!
Sign up here to join our growing list of co-sponsors!
This is a nonviolent action. We expect ALL participants to remain peaceful and to try to de-escalate any potential confrontations.
Transportation:
More areas coming soon!
How to Prepare:
• Bring signs → Make your message visible!
• Recruit friends → The more people, the more power.
• Record everything (except faces when possible)→ Post photos/videos with #HandsOff #HandsOff2025 #50501 #Mass50501 #FiftyFiftyOne #BostonTok #Indivisible #SwingBlue
FAQ
Q: Why is there a butterfly on your flyer?
A: The monarch butterfly represents the dignity and resilience of migrants and the right that all living beings have to move freely.
Q: What should we bring?
A: Bring your flags! American, Pride, Earth, etc. Bring your signs! And bring water and a snack! Dress for the weather!
Q: Will there be ASL Interpretation?
A: ASL interpretation will be available during speeches at the Boston Common and at City Hall Plaza, with the interpreters positioned within view of the accessibility areas at both locations.
Q: How long is the march and is it accessible?
A: Most of the crowd will gather on Boston Common beginning at 11 am. After a brief speaking segment on the Common, the .9-mile march will begin at approximately 11:25 am and arrive at approximately 12:30 pm. The march route will be accessible, with curb-cuts for transitions from marching on sidewalks to the streets. Most of the route is paved, but there are sections with a relatively flat brick surface. Along the route, participants can move between the road and sidewalks via curb-cuts as they prefer. If they would prefer not to participate in the march, participants can also go directly to City Hall Plaza, the end point of the march and the location of the rally. An alternative route from Boston Common is available via sidewalks that avoid brick areas. It is also possible to take the T from Boston Common to Government Center, which is a wheelchair accessible station.
Q: I am disabled/neurodivergent and want to attend. What can I expect, and how much accessibility support will there be?
A: This event may involve 10,000 or more people participating in a march from Boston Common to City Hall Plaza for a rally. These are wheelchair accessible public locations. Both sites will have a designated accessibility area near the stage. At the Boston Common, this area will be both a central location to answer questions about accessibility and to find support for access needs, and a space for disabled individuals and their allies to gather if they would like to march together in community. The accessibility area at City Hall Plaza will have a small number of chairs for those who need to sit during the rally and will be the location where our ASL interpreters will be located. There will be a team of accessibility team volunteers at these locations whose goal is to support the community and accommodate as many access needs as we can.
For more questions, email info@mass50501.com
To submit an event to the calendar, email calendar@swingbluealliance.org