A group of activists imitated a slave auction to advocate for the renaming of Boston’s Faneuil Hall. 

The Boston Globe reported the reenactment by the New Democracy Coalition included 30 speakers who shared prayers and testimonies along with singing “This Little Light of Mine."

Kevin Peterson, the group's founder, explained the significance of the rally to The Boston Globe.  

“I would like the community to understand that slavery was a reality in Boston, and I would like the community to connect the fact that what happened in the 1740s, in terms of the denigration of Black people, continues into 2018,” he said.

Faneuil Hall, also known as the "Cradle of Liberty," was named after Peter Faneuil, a wealthy French colonial slaveowner.  The trader funded the central marketplace that included the famous meeting hall over the market floor.  

The coalition’s spokesman Barry Lawton said the city has been "desensitized to the offense of memorializing a slaver and a trafficker like Peter Faneuil." 

According to The Globe, a hearing to change the building’s name will occur with the city council and Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh.

“If we were to change the name of Faneuil Hall today, 30 years from now, no one would know why we did it. Not many people know about the history of that man,” Walsh said. “We can’t erase history, but we can learn from it.”

A white woman who was among the 40-plus attendees told the publication that she felt a duty to show up and support.

“I just feel like it’s actually white people’s work, not Black people’s work,” she shared. "So I feel like it’s important to show up and do something.”

The New Democracy Coalition suggested renaming the building after Crispus Attucks, a Black man who was the first person killed during the 1770 Boston Massacre.

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Boston city councilBoston, MAFaneuil HallKevin PetersonNew Democracy Coalition