The City of Cambridge will host Loving Day Cambridge, a three-day series of events to honor the 50th anniversary of Loving v. Virginia, the landmark 1967 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that struck down state laws banning interracial marriage.
Loving Day Cambridge will run from June 11 through June 13. The celebration will kick off with a special event for kids and families, hosted by social justice project Wee The People. Activities will continue the next day with a community rally at Cambridge City Hall and will be capped off by two performances of the acclaimed one-woman show One Drop of Love.
Loving Day Cambridge 2017 events will offer welcoming and celebratory spaces for individuals and families of all colors and cultures. Each event is open and free to the public and designed to reflect and promote inclusion, equity and the right to marry regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, gender, physical and mental disability, sexual orientation or religion.
According to U.S. Census data, nearly 10% of all married couples -- more than 5 million -- identify as interracial or inter-ethnic. “This year, we celebrate the fight that Richard and Mildred won 50 years ago that paved the way for people to marry who they love without penalty of law,” said Dr. Chandra Crudup of Mixed Roots Stories. “We celebrate their fight for justice. We continue to fight for love."
The three events are as follows:
- June 11, Sunday, 10am - 12pm: Love Has No Color: A Loving Day Celebration for Kids, led by Wee The People at the Middle East/Sonia
- June 12, Monday, 4:30pm - 6pm: Loving Day Cambridge Rally: City of Cambridge proclaiming June 12 “Loving Day” with live performances by Zili Misik and the Cambridge Rindge & Latin High School A Cappella group at Cambridge City Hall Front Lawn
- June 13, Tuesday, 1pm & 7pm: One Drop of Love: a multimedia one-woman play exploring the intersections of race, class and gender at Central Square Theater. (SOLD OUT)
Loving Day Cambridge is one of many celebrations held nationally to honor the Loving v. Virginia decision. Loving Day Cambridge is a collaboration of Cambridge and Boston civic, nonprofit and for-profit organizations and businesses.