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SEPTEMBER 8, 2019, BROOKLYN WEEKLY
Thousands parade through Crown Heights
to celebrate West Indian Day festivities
BY AIDAN GRAHAM
Thousands of Brooklyn revelers
marched down Eastern
Parkway decked out in
fl amboyant costumes to celebrate
Caribbean culture
at the 52nd annual West Indian
Day Parade on Sept. 2.
Storm clouds unleashed
torrents of rain on the gaily
attired procession, but that
did little to dampen the
spirits of merrymakers
and elected offi cials, who
marched from Lincoln Terrace
Park to Grand Army
Plaza with a procession of
party fl oats and costumed
dancers.
“We are gathered in joy
— we’re not worried about
a little rain,” said Mayor
Bill de Blasio, who to a
break from campaigning
for president to march in
the race. “Rain is not going
to stop us.”
The festivities offi cially
began at 6 a.m. with the
J’ouvert Parade, a smaller
march from Grand Army
Plaza to Nostrand Avenue
and Rutland Road, before
the main event kicked off
at noon.
The parade, which is
meant to celebrate the culture,
food, music, and history
of the Caribbean people,
has become a favorite among
Brooklynites — including
the Borough President, who
took to Twitter to share his
thoughts on the event.
Rain couldn’t stop this year’s procession, which featured hundreds of glittering Brooklynites.
“I’ve been marching in
this parade since I was 13
years old, and the energy
and vibrancy never fails
to amaze and inspire,” said
Eric Adams.
This year’s event featured
beefed up security
following past parades that
have ended in tragedy — including
when Carey Gabay,
a senior aide to Gov. Andrew
Cuomo, was gunned
down by a stray bullet at
the 2015 festivities — according
to the Police Department.
The Eastern Parkway
parade route was closed off
to the public the night before
and lined with thousands
of uniformed offi -
cers and 13 secured entry
points to ensure no weapons
entered the crowds,
cops said.
To further increase security,
the J’ouvert Parade
began at day-break this
year, later than it’s traditional
start time — ensuring
that none of the events
happened under the cover
of darkness, according to
police.
Police had been preparing
for more than 40,000
participants and 1 million
spectators before the rain
dampened the turnout, according
to Police Chief
Rodney Harrison.
Politicians and parties alike gathered for the 11 a.m. kickoff of the
Paraders danced down Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights for the
Labor Day celebration. Photos by Marcus Stevens
Paradegoers gathered on Sept. 2 for the 52nd Annual West Indian Day Parade. annual parade.