With Consensus Decision Making Process And Inspirational Words Activists Launch #OccupyBoston

by Dave Goodman (I.B.I.S. Radio) (Staff), Sep-29-11

BOSTON/Boston Common - With a dogged persistence bordering on the quixotic, activists on Tuesday evening staged a chaotic but wildly democratic launch to the Boston version of the #OccupyWallStreet campaign.

Wrapup: Second #OccupyBoston General Assembly

by Christine O'Connell and Jason Pramas, OMB Special Events Unit (Staff), Sep-29-11

BOSTON/Boston Common - The #OccupyBoston General Assembly held its second meeting last night at the Parkman Bandstand on the Boston Common. Over 200 people attended and immediately went into meetings of the working groups they had formed at the first meeting. After deliberating on specific tasks for over an hour, each group reported back to the assembly.

Wrapup: First #OccupyBoston General Assembly

by Jason Pramas (Staff), Sep-28-11

BOSTON/Boston Common - Over 300 people attended the first General Assembly of the #OccupyBoston movement last night at the Parkman Bandstand on the Boston Common.

Public Higher Education Advocates Conclude Cross-State March for Increased Funding with Boston Common Rally

by Jason Pramas (Staff), Oct-13-10

BOSTON/Boston Common - Ten students, staff, faculty, and alumni from the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts concluded a 114-mile march across the state to defend public higher education with a Thursday rally on Boston Common attended by over 150 supporters. The marchers stopped at seven campuses to raise awareness and gather thousands of signatures on a statement in support of their "Great State of Mind Campaign" - which they delivered to legislators at the conclusion of the event.

The campaign statement calls for state government to increase state support for higher education to the national average and decrease costs to students to the national average. According to PHENOM organizers, "the Bay State is currently 46th of 50 states in per capita support, has cut funding more than any other state in the past five years, and has some of the highest student charges in the country."

Boston Labor Day Rally Focuses on Economic Crisis, Rep. Niki Tsongas Attacks Republican Policies

by Jason Pramas (Staff), Sep-09-10

BOSTON/Boston Common - After another difficult year for working families, over 200 union members, staff and allies gathered in front of the recently restored Brewer Fountain on Boston Common to celebrate Labor Day with a rally and march. The event was organized by New England's main property services union, Service Employees International Union Local 615. Union leaders said the aim of the action was to ask attendees to urge "their neighbors to support policies to put people back to work, put immigrants on the path to citizenship, and ensure the devastating Bush tax giveaways to the super rich expire on schedule in December 2010."

Boston May Day 2010 Condemns Arizona Bill, Calls for Immigrant Workers’ Rights

by Ana Traynin (Staff), May-05-10

BOSTON/Boston Common - About 500 people rallied on the Boston Common at noon Saturday to commemorate May 1st, International Worker’s Day 2010. For the fifth year since the Boston May Day Coalition formed in 2006, the rally and subsequent march brought together a variety of students, workers and other activists. Represented groups included the ANSWER Coalition, the Student Immigrant Movement, the Worcester Immigrant Coalition, United for Justice with Peace and the Boston Anti-Authoritarian Movement (BAAM), among many others.

Palin, Tea Party Express Come to Boston

by Ana Traynin (Staff), Apr-21-10

BOSTON/Boston Common – Nearly 5,000 people descended on the Boston Common last Wednesday morning to attend the last scheduled rally on the third Tea Party Express national tour. The special guest was former Alaska governor and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, who spoke to the crowd in the late morning.

Students, Staff and Faculty Rally to Increase Mass. Public Higher Education Funding

by Jason Pramas (Staff), Mar-11-10

BOSTON/Boston Common - Over 125 students, faculty, staff and alumni from several Massachusetts public colleges rallied Monday on Boston Common to pressure the state legislature to increase funding for public higher education. The event was oraganized by the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts.

Peace Groups Rally on Boston Common to Oppose Afghanistan Escalation

by Jesse Kirdahy-Scalia and Ana Traynin (Staff), Dec-09-09

BOSTON/Boston Common - Approximately 200 people gathered on the corner of Park Street and Tremont Street on evening of December 2 to protest President Barack Obama's decision to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. Protesters held lit candles and waved signs reading "War is Always a Defeat for Humanity" and "No We Can't," while speakers from Veterans for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, and other Boston-area peace groups addressed the crowd.

Mass. LGBT Advocates Protest Yes Vote on Maine's Anti-Gay Marriage Question 1

by Jason Pramas (Staff), Nov-08-09

BOSTON/Boston Common - Immediately following the yes vote on Maine's Question 1, the "Maine Same-Sex Marriage People's Veto," over 100 Mass. gay marriage advocates held a protest on Boston Common next to the Park Street T stop on Wednesday evening. The question was put on the ballot by Stand for Marriage Maine - a coalition of conservative religious and social organizations - to overturn Maine's recently-passed gay marriage law. It was opposed by the progressive coalition Protect Maine Equality. Both the pro- and anti-Question 1 forces had significant support on the national and state levels during the closely watched campaign - which was widely viewed as a barometer of the prospects for the success of the gay marriage movement around the U.S.