(Kevin Coleman/WBZ NewsRadio)
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — What would have been the 27th Annual Cambridge Carnival on September 8th has been cancelled—due to a gun violence threat.
"On Thursday, August 29th, I was called by the Cambridge Police Commissioner Bard," the carnival's lead organizer Nicola Williams said. "He informed me that he had reliable intelligence that a gang was planning to use our event as a venue to stage a retaliatory act of gun violence."
This is a recent development in planning for the event.
"We found out yesterday, so as soon as we found out, the City Councillors were notified as well, so we're in real time here," Williams said. "So it wasn't like weeks ago, days ago. It was yesterday afternoon."
Williams has a message for the group of gunmen.
"Get rid of the guns. We have a broader problem, where people have easy access to guns," Williams said. "We are resilient people in Cambridge and we will stand up to defend our culture and our people."
The carnival committee is still planning on hosting an event this fall.
"It takes a village and we want people to join us in whatever way we move forward," Williams said. "But we are going to celebrate, one way or another."
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WBZ NewsRadio's Kevin Coleman (@KevinColemanWBZ) reports