Thousands parade through Crown Heights
to celebrate West Indian Day festivities
COURIER LIFE, SEPT. 6-12, 2019 3
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.
“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.
Paraders danced down Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights for the Labor
Day celebration. Photos by Marcus Stevens
Politicians and parties alike gathered for the 11 a.m. kickoff of the annual
parade.
Paradegoers gathered on Sept. 2 for the 52nd Annual West Indian Day Parade.
Rain couldn’t stop this year’s procession, which featured hundreds of
glittering Brooklynites.