Protests Planned For Boston's New Year's Eve Celebration

Boston's citywide New Year's Eve celebration, First Night, is planned for Wednesday. It's traditionally a night of music, food and fireworks. But, this year, it could also include more protests in the wake of police killings of unarmed black men in Ferguson, Missouri and New York.

On its Facebook page, an activist group in Boston calling itself "First Night Against Police Violence" says it will stage a march and a die-in in Copley Square Wednesday evening. Tuesday, Mayor Marty Walsh and Police Commissioner William Evans said they respect the rights of protesters, but told them not to disrupt the celebrations.

"The point of First Night is to make New Year's a safe, positive, family-friendly event," said the mayor. "That's why I'm asking everyone to use common sense and caution on this New Year's Eve."

In recent weeks, protesters have staged rallies and die-ins across the country, including here in Boston, and the subject of building closer police-community relations was again front and center at a meeting Monday night in Roxbury, attended by the mayor, police, residents and church leaders.

Rev. Jeffrey Brown, associate pastor for the Twelfth Baptist Church. He tweets @RECAP_INTL.

WBUR: Boston Officials Discuss New Year’s Preparations