52 years ago on May 22, then-Mayor John Collins declared "Melnea Cass Day". This year, Mayor Marty Walsh did the same to honor the late civil rights advocate.

The Proclamation reads:

"Proclamation
Whereas: Melena Cass, through her contributions to the City of Boston and her courage in the face of adversity earned the nickname "The First Lady of Roxbury"; and

Whereas: Melena Cass's courage was fervently displayed through her advocacy for the elderly, the poor, women's civil rights, and communities of color; and

Whereas: Throughout her lifetime Melena Cass was dedicated to her community. Her work reflected her passion. She held roles that engaged the community she loved, such as a Charter member of the Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), President of the Boston NAACP Branch, Chairwoman for the Massachusetts Advisory Committee for the Elderly, and as one of the founding members of a community pillar - Freedom House; and

Whereas: Melnea's fight did not end with her roles. She was a community organizer having led the way in registering women of color to vote in 1920 after the Nineteenth Amendment was passed; and

Whereas: Melnea Cass is a Boston legend. Her name belongs amongst the historical figures with our city such as, Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X, Bruce Bolling, and Mary Evans Wilson; now

Therefore: I, Martin J. Walsh, Mayor for the City of Boston, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, May 22nd, 2018 to be Melnea Cass Day in the City of Boston.

I urge all of my fellow Bostonians to join me in recognizing Melnea Cass's everlasting contributions to our great City of Boston. Her work will live on, and so her dream of an equitable future will be realized."