LYNN — July 4 is a day where Americans celebrate the freedom of this great nation, but how can one do that when, truly, not everyone is free?
To address this discrepancy, Diverse People United, a Lynn organization whose mission is to “create transformative healing through cooperative community-based actions” will be marching on the holiday. They hope to make a statement that the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community isn’t able to enjoy the freedom that is supposed to be celebrated.
The organization is still rather young — not even a year old — but they are working hard when it comes to social advocacy and are made up of a diverse group of individuals including those from the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities.
Diverse People United (DPU) has held several marches and also organized a “Stop Asian Hate” rally. This summer, the organization will also be hosting a “Youth Rising” summit as DPU wants to be involved with the youth of the city
This is the second time the group will hold an “Occupy Wyoma Square” march on July 4. While last year’s focus was a response to the murder of George Floyd, the message behind this year’s event is “none of us are free, until all of us are free.”
While there has been some progress in racial equity implemented around the country, DPU’s Neil Whittredge realizes that the United States still has a lot of work to do.
“Until the Black, disabled, LGBTQIA person has the same opportunities, same freedom, same liberties, same rights and is treated with the same respect as the straight, white, rich male, we have work to do and we want to recognize that,” Whittredge said. “While this country celebrates the Fourth of July and its freedom, there are a lot of people in this country that have restricted freedoms and do not share the same as the most privileged and wealth in this country so, to some degree, it’s hypocritical.”
There will be spoken-word performances at the event, along with speeches from a variety of different backgrounds.
“As we try to embody our name, we have a diverse group of individuals speaking from many different demographics,” he said.
While last year’s event was planned in a week, Diverse People United is hoping that this year’s march will be a bigger affair since they have had some more time to prepare.
The event will begin at 12 p.m. in Manning Field. Then, participants will march all the way to Wyoma Square, where organizers and demonstrators will occupy the space.
