Boston honors anniversary of Rosa Parks's historic stance

They marched with conviction, but their way was marked by sadness.

Nearly 600 people took to the streets of Boston yesterday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Rosa Parks's historic refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Ala., bus to a white man. The simple act helped launch the civil rights movement in America.

The marchers honored Parks's legacy, but also laid out the work that remains to be done in breaking the cycle of poverty and violence in the United States. They also couldn't escape the shadow of the recent increase in shootings that brought the city's homicide toll to 66 -- the highest in 10 years.

''I'm tired of the violence in Roxbury," said Ernesto Arroyo, a co-organizer of the rally, as he addressed marchers gathered at the intersection of Blue Hill Avenue and Dudley Street in Roxbury. ''We're here to reflect on Rosa Parks, but this is much bigger than one person. We're dying in Boston. . . . We're dying on streets we don't even own."

The marchers, who included teenagers, parents, and community activists, stood in a blustery wind and applauded Arroyo, the son of Councilor at Large Felix D. Arroyo.

Parks would have wanted the violence to stop, marchers said as they walked toward City Hall to the sound of rhythm and blues music blaring over loudspeakers. Councilors Charles C. Yancey, Chuck Turner, and Arroyo were part of the crowd, which encouraged passersby to join them in Portuguese, Spanish, French, and English.

The City Council passed a resolution Oct. 26 encouraging Bostonians to participate in activities honoring Parks's legacy in the civil rights movement. Hundreds of teenagers decided to do just that and joined the ranks of veteran activists.

Still, New Mission High School student Latrelle Boyd, 15, of Hyde Park, said some of her peers don't appreciate Parks's accomplishment.

''You'll see us still going to the back of the bus," said Boyd.

Kevin Ivey, 16, of Roxbury, said some teens are missing the point. ''Most of us don't know our black history," he said.

Several students from New Mission High and Boston Latin School were in attendance.

''We want them to have an opportunity to be a part of history," said English teacher John Morson. ''We hope they learn to be active, young citizens. We all decided this was much more important than just schoolwork."

Jeremy Depina, 20, said he thinks he knows the solution to poverty and crime.

''We need more jobs," said Depina, adding that he has friends who cannot get work because of past criminal records.

The marchers arrived at City Hall, where they were met by students from schools across Boston and activists who spoke to the crowd on a wide variety of social issues.

Some of the talk may have been confusing for the younger people, but the overall point of Parks's activism wasn't lost.

''She made a difference," said Gracie Cobielo, 10, of Charleston, a student at Advent School of Boston, a private institution. ''She made a lot of people realize [segregation] wasn't a good thing to do."

Adrienne P. Samuels can be reached at asamuels@globe.com.