Days after Gross became the new Boston Police commissioner—and the first black officer to assume the role—local activists are gathering in Franklin Park to voice concerns regarding public safety and the police. Topping the list: there have been 30 homicides in Boston this year... 
Police are also more likely to arrest perpetrators when the case involves white victims.
Monica Cannon-Grant, key organizer of the event, starts the rally. She shouts out groups in attendance like Black Lives Matter, Teen Empowerment, and March for Our Lives.
Cannon-Grant: People always say we're not Chicago. We're smaller than them, that's why I call this a State of Emergency... Everytime a gun is fired there's a potential for loss of life.
Cannon-Grant: Everytime one of our black and brown kids gets shot, the police say "they were gang-involved"... Or something else that puts them at fault.
Cannon-Grant also says that kids who were shot but deemed "gang-involved" can't access victim resources.
Cannon-Grant also says that kids who were shot but deemed "gang-involved" can't access victim resources.
Cannon-Grant says the city needs a violence prevention program. Also disputes the usual line from police and officials that community members need to come forward and work with police after violence occurs.
Cannon-Grant says it's good news that there's now a black commissioner, but doubts he'll turn things around quickly.
Earlier, she told me that while Commissioner Gross has a relationship with communities of color, other police still don't.
Earlier, she told me that while Commissioner Gross has a relationship with communities of color, other police still don't.
Arianna and Miguel from Teen Empowerment lead the crowd in an ice breaker, where they fill the space, shake hands, and answer questions.
Over 60 people in attendance, from my count. Pretty diverse, too. And it looks like people are still joining in, mostly one or two at a time every few minutes.
By end of the interactive exercise, people were asked to share stories about loved ones they lost to city violence.
A young singer named Tay closes the rally with an original song inspired by racism she's endured, and by the inequality that's affected her home neighborhood of Dorchester.
Spoke to a few folks in the crowd. Lisa Robinson, the leader of Boston Area chapter of Parents of Murdered Children, told me she wants to see a return to "feet-beat" community policing.
One man, 40, was a recent shooting victim in Boston. He says that police were ready to label him gang-involved. He drove himself to the hospital with a bullet wound, frustrated by their questioning. But believes in Gross—he met him back in the top cop's gang unit days.
One young man, 20, says that just living in a community plagued by violence takes a toll and alters your mindset, even if you're not involved as all: "I would hear gunshots at work." He also thinks police should have a better solve rate for their cases.
