Protesters march through Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street

WORCESTER, Mass. — Hundreds of people took to Shrewsbury Street during a march called “Say Her Name.” The rally was organized by a group of black women who feel their voices have not been heard in recent protests in the Commonwealth and nationally.

“A black woman's life is just as important as a black man's life, a child's life,” said Magdelene Barojolo of Amplify Black Voices.

There were couples, families and individuals of all colors standing at East Park listening to black female speakers share personal stories of racism they and their families experienced.

Then, those in attendance left the park and walked down Shrewsbury Street toward some of Worcester’s most popular restaurants.

Several organizers said they planned to walk in the street and notified police ahead of time. Worcester Police were visible in and around the protest area, and shutdown a section of Shrewsbury Street while scores of activists chanted and held signs for equality.

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City Councilor-at-Large Khrystian King called the march, “extremely powerful,” and praised the women who put it together.

“It is the next step in our city towards moving forward and identifying how we’re going to make change,” King said.

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