CAMBRIDGE, MASS. (WHDH) - Four protesters identifying themselves as members of the Black Lives Matter group were arrested following a demonstration for affordable housing in Cambridge.
According to police, several protesters chained themselves to the front door of City Hall at 5:30 a.m. They remained chained to the doors when City Hall opened for business at 8 a.m.
Protesters were outside the city hall beginning at 5:30 a.m. They were chained to the doors when it opened for business at 8 a.m. The protesters and their group said they were at City Hall calling for more affordable housing in Cambridge.
“Gentrification is killing Cambridge and the people of color who live here are disappearing,” said a woman at the demonstration.
Currently, 11 percent of housing in Cambridge is considered affordable. The group said they want to see the number raised to 25. Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons said the city is working on it.
“We’re all here for the same reason, which is how do we keep Cambridge diverse? How do we keep Cambridge economically welcoming to all residents everywhere? So I stand with you, I applaud your efforts,” Simmons told the people at the rally.
Cambridge City Councilor Marc McGovern said 49 percent of Cambridge’s middle class has left the city in the past decade because the cost of living has gotten so high. The City Council said they hope to have an agreement on affordable housing by the end of the year.
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