Tuesday, June 12, marked the fifty-first anniversary of Loving v. Virginia, the landmark civil rights case that struck down anti-miscegenation laws and legalized interracial marriage. Last weekend the Central Flea outdoor open market in Cambridge, MA, shared its space with the Loving Day Cambridge Block Party. Lots and lots of people were involved in organizing the event, but I'll start the credit with parent-friend Emie Michaud Weinstock.




Boston-based performing arts and social justice organization Wee the People led games and activities and helped kids make their own protest-Ts using stencils and squirty-paint (mine made a rainbow-heart-peace-sign shirt and a Swimmy-inspired little-fish-organize-and-unite-against-the-big-fish shirt). Look out for their events series with the Boston Public Library (coming up on June 27: "Little Voices, Big Change: Tutus for Batman" at the Connolly Branch in Jamaica Plain) and for Wee the People co-founder Francie Latour's upcoming picture book with Groundwood, Auntie Luce's Talking Paintings.



Porter Square Books had a table highlighting a selection of children's and YA titles, including my beloved You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins, and there was a comfy "Book Lounge" picnic-blanket area with a selection of children's books (from the library!); we suggest Selina Alko and Sean Qualls’s picture book biography The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage and Patricia Hruby Powell's young adult “documentary novel” in verse Loving vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case. Cilla Lee-Jenkins series author Susan Tan was also there, fresh off her panel of local women authors at the library a few days before, with buttons and other book-related swag for the kiddos.

There was great live music -- trombone player Myrish Spell and her band! -- readings, storytelling, and events (and wedding cake!) on a gorgeous and uplifting day celebrating love, social justice, and community.

For more from The Horn Book on social justice and activism see our Making a Difference landing page.