Brookline Select Board Approves B.A.A.'s Boston Marathon Permit

BROOKLINE MA — The Brookline Select Board unanimously approved the Boston Athletic Association's (B.A.A.) 125th Boston Marathon special use permit at their meeting on Tuesday night, allowing the marathon route to cut through the town on October 11.

The approval comes after the Select Board delayed their vote on the special permit at a July 27 meeting, expressing concern that the B.A.A. had not done enough to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day, which overlaps with this year's marathon date after it was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response to the Select Board's concerns, the B.A.A. met with representatives from the Federal and State Recognized Tribes to come up with a list of measures it would take to honor the holiday and issued a formal apology last week.

"We're committed to continuing to work with Indigenous people, now and into the future," said B.A.A. COO Jack Fleming at Tuesday's meeting. "Though an October Boston Marathon may be a singular event, we are proud to see the fundraising that is going on right now."

The B.A.A.'s efforts to recognize indigenous communities ahead of and during the Boston Marathon include recognizing indigenous land on marathon day and donating to help the Indigenous Peoples' Day Newton Committee fund its first-ever Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebration. The B.A.A. will also celebrate Indigenous runners including Ellison Brown, Patti Catalano Dillon, and Tom Longboat and recognize Indigenous athletes participating in this year's race.

"The B.A.A. will be uplifting our event with their community as well as any other indigenous people's day celebrations that are going on along the route and I believe throughout Massachusetts," said Raquel Halsey, chair of Brookline’s Indigenous Peoples' Celebration Committee.

“I think they’re trying really hard to make sure that they are supporting the community on that day,” she continued.

Select Board members applauded the B.A.A.'s response to concerns and criticisms and Indigenous Peoples' Day planning. Vice Chairman Raul Fernandez said the organization set an example by being willing to acknowledge wrongs and doing everything they could to make them right.

“It’s not that Jack [Fleming] talked to folks like me; it’s that Jack took the time to talk to people in Native and Indigenous communities and understand their perspective, and that was the most important thing that I think happened over the last month,” he said.

Fernandez also suggested the B.A.A. work towards systemic fixes by adding an Indigenous person to its leadership although it would require a board vote.

"You can be certain that as we proceed with those processes the representation of diverse people representing various groups is and will be very much in the front of our minds," replied B.A.A. CEO Tom Grilk.

Brookline's Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, October 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Ridley School and feature Indigenous vendors, a storytime for children, and food provided by the Indigenous-owned Manoa poke shop in Somerville.