Photo: Tina Fineberg/AP
Source: newyorktimes.com
The 42nd Annual West Indian American Labor Day parade in New York City, kicked off with its usual colorful costumes and tens of thousands flocked to Eastern Parkway to participate or to observe the pageantry.
The West Indian Carnival celebration commenced with the J’Ouvert at 2:00 am. until 10:00 am, on the streets of Flatbush in Brooklyn.
The centerpiece of the Carnival was the colorful parade which commenced at 10:00 am, from Utica Avenue to Grand Army Plaza along Eastern Parkway, and saw thousands of masqueraders dance their way along the route with dense crowds of onlookers. There were also floats with masqueraders in elaborate costumes with sequins and glitter, depicting a particular theme, steel band music, DJs, and calypso and reggae music. And of course, there was plenty to eat–including curry goat, jerk chicken, ox-tails– and drink.
Former Secretary of State, Colin Powell, was a grand marshal of the Parade, who at one point endorsed Mayor Michael Bloomberg who is running for a third term for mayor of New York City.
“I endorse him, and I hope he’ll win,” Mr. Powell said as he appeared next to Mayor Bloomberg, who was wearing a bright pink sweater, at a news conference before the parade.
“I would encourage everybody in the crowd, all the citizens of New York not just to go with an endorsement, even though endorsements are important, but to look at the record of the individual,” said Mr. Powell, a native New Yorker who now lives in Virginia. “If they do that, I think they would find that Mike is the guy who ought to be mayor for a third term.”
There were also loud boos along the way, from supporters of City Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr., who is also running for mayor as a Democrat. The chant, “We need a mayor, not a millionaire,” was repeated as revelers paraded toward the grandstand outside the Brooklyn Museum. Local 100 of the Transport Workers’ Union had members stationed about every two blocks to jeer the mayor.
But there were signs reading, “Caribbeans for Mike Bloomberg” by many as supporters danced to calypso music from the New York Police Department band float.
In the end, masqueraders, spectators, pan men, the young and the not so young, all had a great time–and with wonderful weather, the booze and the various ethnic foods– one could not help but have a fab time. And the city? Well, it should have realized millions of dollars on account of the West Indian American Labor Day Parade.
