Racial Justice & Civil Rights

The current local and national civil rights landscape is daunting. Bostonians have experienced back-to-back manifestations of white supremacy in many forms. Councilor Louijeune believes that the path forward must be both community-driven and community-centered. In her first term, the councilor has been outspoken and proactive in creating spaces for community members and elected officials alike to unite, strategize, and create solutions together: 

  • Councilor Louijeuene stood alongside council colleagues to acknowledge, condemn, and apologize for the role played by the City of Boston in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and the ongoing detrimental impacts experienced by Black people in Boston, a necessary first step in our process of healing. LINK 0770

  • The Councilor chaired the working session on reparations and worked closely with colleagues and community advocates to help craft language that led to the Reparations Task Force. The newly named task force will work alongside the City to provide recommendations for reparative justice solutions for Black residents. 

  • In direct response to the back-to-back incidents of white supremacist attacks, Councilor Louijeune’s office hosted a Civil Rights Community Forum with Lawyers for Civil Rights and U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins. This gathering created a safe space for people of color, LGBTQ+ people, persons of faith, immigrants, and all Boston residents to share their perspectives, experiences, and collectively identify paths forward. LINK LCR RELEASE

  • Councilor Louijeune hosted 12 members of World Boston's Latin America delegation for their trip to the United States. This program is focused on centering the participation of people of color in the democratic process. During their visit, members were able to attend a portion of a hearing, explore City Hall, and have a conversation with Councilor Louijeune about Boston politics. 

  • Our prison and punishment system upholds structural racism by disproportionately imprisoning those in Black and Latinx communities. This further perpetuates inequities by providing limited resources for social and economic growth opportunities upon release from incarceration. To combat these deep inequities, Councilor Louijeune held a hearing on the civil rights and liberties of returning citizens and re-entry into their Boston communities. LINK 0168 

    LGBTQ+ 

    • Our Trans community disproportionately experiences barriers to housing.  In partnership with the nonprofit, Trans Emergency Fund of Massachusetts, Councilor Louijeune fought for their ability to purchase  a home where they provide shelter to trans community members experiencing houselessness. The councilor’s office secured upwards of $5,000 to support this purchase. 

    • Continues to work in deep partnership with Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement

    • Unfortunately, there has been an escalation in acts of hatred towards members of the LGBTQ+ community in our city. Councilor Louijeune is always willing to stand beside community advocates to condemn these acts of violence and hatred. They know that she will stand beside them in times of hardship and celebration. LINK 0889

      AAPI Community 

    • At a meeting in Chinatown on June 6, 2022, members of the AAPI residents expressed concern about what to do when non-violent assaults, slurs, or threats occur. To address this concern and the concern felt by many marginalized groups. Councilor Louijeune filed a hearing order to discuss the increase in white supremacist incidents in Boston and the Human Rights Commission’s role in tracking, reporting, and addressing the incidents of hate and discrimination.  LINK 0155