FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 24, 2014

CONTACT: Peter Van Delft
(617) 704-6682

SHERIFF TOMPKINS PARTICIPATES IN FESTIVAL BETANCES IN BOSTON’S VILLA VICTORIA NEIGHBORHOOD

Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins shares in the celebration of Festival Betances with fellow participant and Mayor of Boston Martin Walsh.

Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins recently took part in the annual Betances Festival held in the Villa Victoria community in Boston’s South End.

Established in 1973, Villa Victoria’s Betances Festival commemorates the life and achievements of Dr. Ramón Emeterio Betances, a 19th century Puerto Rican patriot, poet, medical doctor, abolitionist, and artist. Organized annually by the residents of Villa Victoria and the Board and Staff of IBA – Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción, the festival brings over 5,000 members of the South End community together around food, dance, music and locally made crafts. The festival will also offer traditional Latin foods and crafts for sale as well as great performances by local and international artists.

During the celebration, Sheriff Tompkins mingled with residents and had the opportunity to take the stage and address the crowd before returning to the celebration.

“I’m glad to be a part of the Festival Betances,” said Sheriff Tompkins. “As a patron of the arts, I greatly appreciate the contribution to society made by the man for whom this celebration is named. It’s also good to see my Latino brothers and sisters out here enjoying and sharing this sense of community and family.”

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