BOSTON — Boston’s Faneuil Hall has served as a home for civic rhetoric from the time colonists congregated to talk about freedom from the British. But the site known as the Cradle of Liberty is named after wealthy 18th century slave owner Peter Faneuil, much to the chagrin of activists who are planning a boycott.
Kevin Peterson is leading the boycott of the city-owned building this week, saying the hall was constructed from money derived from the sale of slaves, and that the city’s African-American population doesn’t feel a connection to the site.
Peterson said letters to Democratic Mayor Martin Walsh’s office and the Boston City Council calling for a public hearing have gone unanswered.
As an alternative, Peterson and other members of the New Democracy Coalition are calling for the name to be changed to commemorate Crispus Attucks, a black man who was killed during the 1770 Boston Massacre, generally considered the first casualty of the American Revolution.
The mayor’s office declined to comment and instead referred The Associated Press to a previous statement saying, “We can’t erase history, but we can learn from it.”
Peterson said he also dropped a letter off at City Council President Andrea Campbell’s office in June. She did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Across the U.S., parks, buildings and even a residential college at Yale University have been renamed to erase ties to slavery. Harvard Law School abandoned its shield in 2016 because it was based on the 18th century family crest of a benefactor who owned slaves.
Merchant Peter Faneuil offered to build a public market house in 1740 as a gift to the city on the site where slaves had previously been auctioned.
Completed two years later, the hall served as a meeting spot for colonists planning to overthrow King George III’s rule over the 13 colonies.
Abolitionists gave speeches opposing slavery from its pulpit. Women hosted a conference in 1915 to amend the U.S. Constitution in favor of universal suffrage. More recently, President Barack Obama gave a speech in defense of the Affordable Care Act there. These days, the hall also welcomes immigrants to its space for naturalization ceremonies.