BOSTON (WHDH) - Boston clergy leaders have chained themselves to the historic Faneuil Hall.
They’re protesting its name, and also want to open dialogue to curb racism, according to the group.
“We see this process of changing the name, a public process that could go through the city council or the mayor’s office,” Rev. Kevin Peterson, who is also a member of the New Democracy Coalition, said. “As a way for us to deepen conversations of how we must develop strategies around addressing the issues of anti-Black racism.”
According to Faneuil Hall’s webpage, Faneuil Hall was built in 1742 by Peter Faneuil, Boston’s wealthiest merchant, as a gift to the city.
According to the National Park Service, he also built his fortune through the slave trade.
“Merchants such as Faneuil built their financial empires by trafficking enslaved individuals and trading goods consumed and produced by enslaved labor,” they wrote.
They have not been arrested. The city of Boston said it is committed to advancing racial justice and learning from the past.
(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)