News in Brief: June 16, 2014

Pride Parade, Boston
An estimated 25,000 people took part in Boston Pride parade on Saturday, the culmination of the Pride festival, which began on June 6. The parade was the 44th annual event to celebrate the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender community in Boston, and push for greater equality for the community. Boston City Mayor Marty and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick led the parade as grand marshals.

Socialist Alternative, Boston
Following the Seattle vote in favor of raising the city’s minimum wage to $15 an hour, the Socialist Alternative party in Boston issued a press statement advocating in favor of a similar increase in Boston. According to the statement, the city’s mayor “wasn't concerned with the minimum wage at all when he ran for office, and now, less than six months after 15 Now started, [he’s been forced] to take on the issue and sign a $15/hr minimum wage into law. It continues, “This represents a $3 billion transfer of income from corporations to workers, and the first offensive victory the working class has won in a major city in a very, very long time.” The Massachusetts House and Senate agreed on a proposal to raise the state’s minimum wage gradually to $11 an hour on Wednesday, though union advocates rallied on Saturday calling for a $15 an hour minimum to be considered before the bill becomes law.