Volunteer at the 60th Anniversary of the 1965 Freedom Rally

Embrace Boston's mission is to dismantle structural racism through our work at the intersection of arts and culture, community, and research and policy.

The year 2025 marks the 60th Anniversary of the 1965 Freedom Rally led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ruth Batson, Alan Gartner, Reverend Virgil Wood and Dr. Ralph Abernathy. 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 Ave., and ended at Boston Common where MLK called Boston to “be the testing ground for the ideal of freedom.” Join us on April 26, 2025 12-2:30pm at The Embrace on Boston Common, and be one of 10,000 voices standing together in hope and action! This is your moment to prove that Boston remains a powerful force for freedom and human dignity, just as Dr. King saw it.

As a volunteer, you can help support making this community event impactful! During the 1965 Freedom Rally, we will need volunteers to help with a variety of tasks including:

• Information Station
• Passing out T-Shirts
• Wayfinding (ushers on lawn and ushers to direct traffic by rally-transported vehicles)
• Set up/Breakdown

IMPORTANT: After signing up through Boston Cares, please also sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfUBDKH6evKSwY8p0tCInyNpdGlwOsiHum_kNfKVOKLt_gHnA/viewform

To learn more about the event please visit here: https://www.embraceboston.org/1965-freedom-rally-60th-anniversary

MBTA Accessibility: Chinatown (Orange Line), Park Street (Red Line and Green Line), & Boylston (Green Line).

At Boston Cares, we recognize that diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental values that guide our mission and work. Boston Cares is committed to creating a community where everyone is valued, respected, and can come and participate as their authentic selves. We expect that all volunteers and partners join us in promoting a safe and supportive space for everyone.