Cambridge Carnival—the spectacular annual Caribbean parade and festival planned for Sept. 8—has been canceled due to fears of violence, organizers announced Thursday night.

“There have been increasing safety concerns associated with this year’s event due in part to the gun violence that occurred last weekend in the immediate vicinity of Boston’s Caribbean Carnival Parade,” Cambridge Carnival International, which organizes the celebration, wrote on the event Facebook page. (Full statement below.)

A joint statement from city government leaders and the organization, headed by Nicola A. Williams, who is currently running for Cambridge City Council, said: “Based on the recommendation of Cambridge Police Commissioner Branville G. Bard, Jr., and the Cambridge Carnival Committee, the City Manager Louis A. DePasquale have agreed to cancel this year’s Cambridge Carnival.”

“Cambridge Carnival Committee is looking at all options and we will be organizing activities later this fall to celebrate and share our Caribbean heritage with pride,” the organization wrote. “We will feature food, art and culture, and present the Mayor’s Spirit of Carnival Awards. Details about this fall celebration is forthcoming. Stay tuned.”

(Note: I work for the city of Cambridge’s Arts Council.)

Cambridge Carnival International letter announcing cancellation of 2019 festivities.
Cambridge Carnival International letter announcing cancellation of 2019 festivities.

People responded to the announcement with upset and dismay. “That’s crazy. I’m sooooooooo mad. Why do you cancel “everything” black? Boston just had the festival and it was great. I thought Cambridge was better than this,” one commentator wrote on the Facebook event page.

Another commentator wrote: “Cambridge I guess is showing it’s prejudice as always. My family and I have been going to this every year SINCE I WAS A BABY. Super messed up of y’all to do this.”

A third commentator said: “Why do the media, police and public officials continue to blame the carnivals for the violence that happens around it. It is not the participants, the bands or the hundreds of spectators that brings the violence to the or around the event. It is the very few individuals who on sporadic occasions causes these incidents but year after year our festivals are given disparaging coverage. The city needs too look into the real culprits of these incidents and make it known to the public that these events have nothing to do with the carnivals.”

Last weekend’s Boston Caribbean Carnival was marred by violence. Around 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, Boston police assigned to the Boston Caribbean Carnival’s dawn J’ouvert Parade reported that “While in plain view of the officers, [Michael] Warner produced a firearm and began to shoot across the street at [Atunbi] Bryan who in turn also produced a firearm and began to shoot back at Warner. The two suspects then simultaneously turned in opposite directions and fled on foot.” Both men were quickly arrested, police said.

There has also been violence around past Cambridge Carnivals, which prompted discussions in past years of curtailing the festivities. Two people were injured in a shooting near the Cambridge Carnival’s main stage in Kendall Square in 2017. The previous year, a woman’s face was cut during a fight in Central Square. A woman was shot in the foot at the event in 2015. A fight at the 2014 festival left a person stabbed in the arm.

Cambridge Carnival Parade, Sept. 10, 2017. (Greg Cook)
Cambridge Carnival Parade, Sept. 10, 2017. (Greg Cook)

Full statement from Cambridge Carnival International:

Dear Cambridge Carnival Friends,

It is with a heavy heart that the Cambridge Carnival Committee share the news about the cancellation of this year’s event on September 8th. Cambridge Carnival Committee is looking at all options and we will be organizing activities later this fall to celebrate and share our Caribbean heritage with pride. We will feature food, art and culture, and present the Mayor’s Spirit of Carnival Awards. Details about this fall celebration is forthcoming. Stay tuned.

GET INVOLVED! The Cambridge Carnival Committee is recruiting members and volunteers. Email cambridgecarnival@gmail.com.
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CAMBRIDGE CARNIVAL INTERNATIONAL AND CITY OF CAMBRIDGE JOINT STATEMENT

August 29, 2019

Based on the recommendation of Cambridge Police Commissioner Branville G. Bard, Jr., and the Cambridge Carnival Committee, the City Manager Louis A. DePasquale have agreed to cancel this year’s Cambridge Carnival. This year’s event was scheduled for Sunday, September 8.

For the past 26 years, the Cambridge Carnival has been an important cultural event for the City of Cambridge and the greater region. However, there have been increasing safety concerns associated with this year’s event due in part to the gun violence that occurred last weekend in the immediate vicinity of Boston’s Caribbean Carnival Parade.

The safety of the Cambridge community and those planning to participate in this event or any Cambridge event is paramount and will always serve as the highest priority as it pertains to making difficult decisions like this.

We greatly appreciate the community and expected participants’ understanding with this decision.

###

Added by Cambridge Carnival
Cambridge Carnival Committee is looking at all options and will be organizing activities later this fall to celebrate and share our Caribbean heritage with pride. We will feature food, art and culture, and present the Mayor’s Spirit of Carnival Awards. Details about this fall celebration is forthcoming. Stay tuned.

Previously:
Sept. 10, 2017: Photos: 25th Cambridge Carnival Parade


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