Racial Justice & Civil Rights

Councilor Louijeune believes that the path forward to racial justice and the full protection of civil rights must be both community-driven and community-centered. 

In her first two terms, the Councilor has been proactive in creating spaces for community members and elected officials alike to unite, strategize, and create solutions together. She has worked to: 

Address Inequities in Carceral System:

• Protect the civil rights of returning citizens. The Councilor co-sponsored an order for a hearing on the civil rights of returning citizens and re-entry into their Boston communities. Councilor Louijeune recognizes the difficulties of maintaining employment, healthcare, and housing during re-entry and identifies the challenges that formerly incarcerated individuals face with a lack of support. 

• Codify the Office of Returning Citizens. The Councilor introduced an ordinance for a dedicated office to support the reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals. 

• Assess issues in jail-based voting. The Councilor co-sponsored a hearing to increase voting resources to incarcerated communities, including timely election information. Black and Latinx residents disproportionately experience higher rates of incarceration, often facing disenfranchisement alongside limited re-entry resources. Empowering incarcerated individuals in the voting process is essential to equitable representation and civic participation. 

Protect Residents’ Safety and Identities: 

• Evaluate Boston’s Human Rights Commission. With a rise in racist activity and hate crimes, the Councilor recognizes the need to update reporting requirements, tracking methods, and enforcement powers against discrimination and civil rights violations within Boston’s Human Rights Commission.

• Declare Boston an LGBTQIA+ Sanctuary City. The Councilor co-sponsored a resolution declaring Boston as a sanctuary city for LGBTQIA+ individuals in order to protect their rights to healthcare, support, and well-being. As the federal administration seeks to prevent access to affordable gender-affirming and reproductive healthcare and threatens LGBTQIA+ safety, Boston remains a safe haven for LGBTQIA+ residents. 

• Fight for LGBTQIA+ community members. Councilor Louijeune has been a steadfast advocate for trans rights and dignity in Boston. Her support of the Trans Emergency Fund of Massachusetts has helped to secure funding towards the purchase of housing that provides shelter to trans community members experiencing homelessness. 

She also led efforts to make sure Boston City Council bathrooms are gender neutral, and most recently led an effort for the installation of the city’s first-ever rainbow crosswalk in the South End, celebrating Pride year-round and affirming Boston’s commitment to LGBTQ+ visibility.