June 12, 2006
"Everybody's a Boricua"
Hundreds of thousands of revelers enjoyed the beautiful weather and celebrated during yesterday's Puerto Rican Day Parade. And this year's theme was, "Boricuas...We count, We Vote!" Though Marc Anthony was the Grand Marshal, the real attraction was his wife, Jennifer Lopez. Mayor Bloomberg, who marched with the couple, said, "In the pictures tomorrow, I will be lucky if I am noticed at all." Anthony and Lopez ultimately needed the help of Guardian Angels to keep the paparazzi off them and keep moving along the parade route. And the couple was also there to promote their upcoming film, El Cantante, but the El Cantante float broke down towards the end of the route.
The Puerto Rican Day Parade is also one of the biggest days for area politicians: Senators Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton were on hand, as well as Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion and a smattering of wannabe politicians - Andrew Cuomo, John Faso, Mark Green, Jeanine Pirro, Eliot Spitzer and Tom Suozzi. The parade was pretty incident-free (the Post reports that 60 people were arrested for disorderly conduct, which doesn't sound like that many considering how many attended), but there was that spat with the Latino Officers Associations refusing the march behind the Latin Kings.
Some great photographs are Flickr, photos tagged "puerto rican day parade". And one last note: Mayor Bloomberg also proclaimed, "By order of the mayor, everybody's a Boricua."
Top photograph by Hiroko Masuike/AP; bottom photographer from Adam Pantozzi via Flickr
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\"Everybody\'s a Boricua\"
Oh, yeah. Right. I like my credit score just the way it is.
Hold the phone...aren\'t the Latin Kings a gang? Why is a street gang allowed to march in a public parade, regardless of whose ethnicity it\'s supposed to celebrate? Is Sinn Féin allowed to march in the St. Patrick\'s Day parade?
60 arrests doesn’t sound like that many? Is that what it has come to with this parade? If its less than 100 arrests, everything is OK? (I’m sure that the cops were on orders to look the other way on a lot of antisocial behavior, otherwise there would have been many more arrests).
I wonder if the guy who got slashed in the face would agree things weren’t so bad yesterday. (Gothamist casually forgot to mention that)
How many people were arrested and slashed at the Filipino and Israeli parades last weekend? I’d venture to guess close to zero.
Plus you have to wonder about the people involved with any parade that would have a gang like the Latin Kings as proud participants.
Shouldn\'t that be called the Puerto Rican American Day Parade or at least Puerto Rico Appreciation Day? I\'m not Puerto Rican and I certainly don\'t want the mayor telling me I\'m a boricula, even symbolically. I\'m an American.
Doubly nice that there\'s not a single AMERICAN FLAG amongst them.
The Latin Kings tried to go \"legit\" a few years back, saying that they had expelled all their criminal members and were now a social club. I highly doubt that. While some may argue that they\'re as part of the community as any other organizaion, i think Rocknrope\'s comparison of Sinn Fein in the St Patricks Day Parade is perfect.
Either way, Marc Antony still looks like Skeletor.
60 arrests? there were more at some Critical Mass events.
Puerto Rican Day Parade: everybody wants to be P.R.
St. Paddy\'s Day Parade: everybody wants to be Irish!
BUT...
Martin Luther King Day Parade: nobody wants to be black
The Mayor looks like he\'s in pain. Are his shoes too tight? Or is Jen just too much for him?
washington, dc should have a statehood parade :)
I like J Lo for her body, not her mind.
I hear they used J Lo\'s ass as one of their parade floats.
I\'m amazed she was able to squeeze through 5th Avenue. I envy the group who gets to ride on top of that one.
Dear Kojak and all the other folks who think a woman who is a size 6 is too fat:
Get thee to a therapist to work out your body issues.
She looks just fine to me. What\'s up with Mayor Bling? Lighten up, dude, you\'re rich and hanging with Jennifer Lopez!
I had to wonder about the Latin Kings, too, but then again NORAID used to march in the St. Patty\'s Day Parade. (NORAID, for the uninitiated, is a cover charity for IRA gunrunners).
And when one considers there were 2,000,000 people watching the parade, 60 arrests comes out to .00003 percent of the crowd... or perhaps one toe of one person at the Filipino Day parade (I\'ll resist the temptation to use tone \"one toe out of line\" line).
And the term Puerto Rican-Americans is nonsensicial since Puerto Ricas ARE Americans, have been since 1917.
Just trying to spread a little knowledge around, my friends. Apparently, a little goes a long way.
Size 6????
Not with those hips.
First of all it’s doubtful that 2,000,000 people were at the parade, the city never gets these estimates right.
Whatever the count is, approximately the same number of people attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade as the PR parade. I don’t think you get 6 arrests let alone 60 arrests and a slashing at the Macy’s parade so it has nothing to do with the amount of people there.
If the Pope held a Mass in Central Park that had 2,000,000 people attend, would 60 arrests and a slashing occur?
As for the look on the mayor’s face, he was probably concerned about what diseases he would pick up from A Ho just by walking next to her.
The aftermath of the parade in terms of trash compared with most of the other ethnic parades is staggering. i felt like the American Indian in the PSA commercial from the 70s. At least it was a cool day and things stayed under control.
Whoever invited a violent street gang to the parade should be looking for a new job. Here are two Daily News articles about the Latin Kings./ They were cheered by people, which just amazes me. People are idiots.
Cheers greet Latin Kings
Under the watchful eye of a dozen plainclothes cops, about 75 members of the notorious Latin Kings street gang marched in yesterday\'s Puerto Rican Day Parade to whistles and cheers from onlookers.
The Kings strutted peacefully up Fifth Ave., although some gang members who weren\'t with the marchers were seen being arrested at various points. In one case, a 19-year-old Bronx man was slashed in the face at Madison Ave. and 81st St. by a man he told cops was a Latin King.
Police said they made 67 parade-related arrests overall, most for disorderly conduct. Sporting gold-and-black beads and T-shirts calling for the release of their murderous leader Luis (King Blood) Felipe, the Latin Kings contingent chanted, \"Whose streets? Kings\' streets!\"
As first reported by the Daily News, the Kings\' presence prompted the city Correction Department\'s Hispanic Society to withdraw from the parade. \"I would not have invited them,\" Mayor Bloomberg said of the gang.
Repeated calls to parade organizers were not returned.
* * *
Correx unit\'s out of parade
Won\'t walk behind gang
BY JONATHAN LEMIRE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
A group of Latino correction officers has pulled out of today\'s Puerto Rican Day Parade rather than march behind the Latin Kings street gang, the Daily News has learned.
The city Correction Department\'s Hispanic Society has marched in the annual event for nearly 30 years. But its outraged executive board voted to withdraw after learning the notorious gang would be marching up Fifth Ave. directly in front of the jailers.
\"This is a tough pill to swallow, to be following in the footsteps of criminals,\" said Samuel Valle, the fraternal organization\'s executive vice president. \"It\'s really sad for us and for our families, but we will not compromise ourselves.\"
Parade organizers have allowed the Latin Kings - which bill themselves as a political organization - to march for the past few years, according to a City Hall source. Last year, more than 150 gold-and-black-clad members who were not part of the official contingent linked arms when cops tried to arrest them for trying to crash the parade.
\"The Latin Kings are who we fight against each and every day in our city\'s prisons,\" said Valle, a 17-year member of the Correction Department. \"They have a very strong hold in our prisons and are involved in hits, extortion, stabbings, slashing and assaults on our staff.\"
Repeated calls to the parade organizers for comment were not returned. The event is expected to draw nearly 2 million people to Fifth Ave. today.
Hispanic Society officials informed the organizers of their concerns on Friday but were told that the Latin Kings\' invitation would not be rescinded, Valle said. The group then sent a letter to its members announcing the withdrawal.
In solidarity, many other correction officers have pulled out of the parade, including the president of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association.
\"If correction officers aren\'t marching in the parade, I won\'t be, either,\" said union head Norman Seabrook, adding that he and members of the Hispanic Society would partake in postparade parties.
\"The parade is such a pride-filled parade. It\'s our day,\" Valle said. \"But now this is a sad day for us and our families.\"
She\'s a size six. I know her. And seriously, think about why you feel the need to bash women because their bodies don\'t fit your (stupid) mold.
And we don\'t even know what the arrests are for. Maybe most were drunk and disorderly. You\'re not going to tell me the St Patties day parade has less drunken fights are you? Especially if they ever reach 2 million.
I seem to remember, I think it was 1999 - 2000 St Patties parade someone getting killed. I remember thinking \"And they talk about the Puerto Rican Parade...\"
I think much of this is jealousy. But don\'t worry...
There is a little Puerto RICAN in every AmeRICAN. HEHE!
Puerto Rican Day Parade: everybody wants to be P.R.
St. Paddy\\\'s Day Parade: everybody wants to be Irish!
BUT...
Martin Luther King Day Parade: nobody wants to be black
_________________________________
Nobody wants to be you.
Accept you
The terroist are looking for you.
The first part of the above thread was posted by \"hr\" June 12 @ 9:09AM
hr: there is no Martin Luther King Day Parade.
what about fat joe as an announcer for the parade on fox?
fat joe: “italians go back to the vatican, to rome for their cultural identity. for puerto ricans, its old san juan… go to the bacardi factory where you get a free shot on a tour.”
first of all, fat joe works for bacardi. Does fox own bacardi or vice versa? Aren’t decent people offended that fat joe is picked as a cultural representative of puerto rico? the guy promotes drugs, violence, disrepect of women, basically every bad stereotype out there. not to mention being morbidly obese.
Hell Margo. I never said that she was busted. She has a nice large round ass. Just looks larger then a 6.
If I could I would wear her ass as a hat for all eternity.
No one ever said the St Patrick\'s Day parade was anything to write home about...its another parade where the paradegoers act ridiculous and stereotypical.
Bob A Booey, Assuming that Parades are allowed to exist: How do you suggest people act?
- I might have missed it, but was anyone arrested for Sexual Assault?
- Any Pictures of BBQ\'ing on the Sidewalk?
- Any public Drinking?
- Was 5th Ave boarded up??
- People Scream \"Chino\"?
- Did The Sky Fall and I missed it?
It\'s a Parade. People Cheer, make Noise and the bands plays just like they do at other parades. If that makes us \"stereotypical\", Oh Well...As Tim mentioned 60 (I read 67) people were arrested. IMO, That\'s Hardly enough to demonize an entire Parade and Culture.
S.D....I think that\'s the point people are trying to make...this wasn\'t a parade...it was a ghetto block party or war zone at the best. I am a Barneys employee and because of our location between 5th and Madision, police were escorting people in and out of the building. It was out of control.
S.D....I think that\'s the point people are trying to make...this wasn\'t a parade...it was a ghetto block party or war zone at the best. I am a Barneys employee and because of our location between 5th and Madision, police were escorting people in and out of the building. It was out of control.
This year's parade was great with all of the floats, performances, the atmosphere, except for the fact that everyone wanted to focus on trashing the Latin Kings and whether they should march or not. Anyone who was there knew that cops were busting anyone with a bandana on and charging them with unlawful assembly and disorderly conduct. I saw members of the Bloods and ALKQN all getting arrested for no reason and then hauled off in paddy wagons as if they did something other than standing on the sidewalk. And the Correctional Officers can't even talk. If they didn't beat the crap out of prisoners and make illegal money within the correctional facilities with inmates inside maybe they'd get more respect. In all reality, the LK's have contributed more to improve the streets than these thugs in uniforms have. I'm hoping that the Kings get back into the movement and eliminate the bad apples though, that way their credibility in instances like these would be easier to defend. In any case, they are a part of the Puerto Rican community and can even be considered a part of our modern Nuyorican culture despite the good or bad that might have come from them in the past. Peace.
I am one of the few half but PROUD Puerto Rican girls and i attended the parade this year and it was enjoyable.Also everyones on the latin king issue just lay off of it because they were not doing anything but enjoying their selves and just because everyone hears on the news that there bad you dont even know front hand
my dad is king also my cousins and my brothers and they marched and there was no problem besides that the music waz good the floats were beautiful and the boys were cute....FYI no one wants to be black because there considered dirt also everyone fights and starts choas so just lay off
Hahahahahaha! Your funny Papercutninja.
Well as far as the parade goes, The same thing that happened last year happen this year! It shouldn't be a surprise that most if not all the businesses were boarded-up. They do this for a reason you know, Some people just don't know how to act during parties. It's not a rican thing, It's a "PEOPLE" thing! As far as the Latin Kings marching in the parade, So what ! They did it last year and they will be there next year. I agree with the Correction Officers union's decision not to partake in the march. My concern is was it because they would be following the Kings in the march? If this is the case then that's just petty. I hope it's because the Kings were allowed to march in the parade.
This goes to #29(The half breed). *Extends both middle fingers* If blacks are considered "Dirt" then Your people are wild animals incapable of controlling themselves in a constructive manner! I've never heard of any businesses boarding-up there property prior to the African American day parade !
FIRST AND FORMOST LET US GET CLEAR THAT EVERYTHING WE HEAR IN THE MEDIA ABOUT THE LATIN KINGS IN THE PUERTO RICAN DAY PARADE IS ALL PROPAGANDA! 5% MIGHT BE TRUE AND 95% IS FALSE ABOUT WHAT THEY REPORT! I MYSELF WAS ONE OF THE ARRESTED IN THE 2005 P.R. PARADE AND YES I AM ONE OF THOSE L.K'S FROM CONNECTICUT THAT WAS FALSELY ACCUSED OF UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY!!! WE WERE NOT AT THE PARADE TRYING TO CRASH THE PARADE TO MARCH. WE WERE WALKING UP 6TH AVE TOAWRDS THE PARK TO GO MEET OTHER BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND OUT OF NOWHERE WE GET SURROUNDED AND ARRESTED! NOT BEING IN THE PARADE FOR NO MORE THEN AN HALF HOUR GETTTING OFF THE METRO NORTH TRAIN IN GRAND CENTRAL STATION!!! WE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SLASHINGS OR CONFRONTATIONS WITH COPS!WEAPONS WERE NOT FOUND SO I DONT KNOW WHERE THE MEDIA IS ACTUALLY GETTINBG THERE SOURCES FROM BUT OTHER THE COPS THEMSELVES LIEING TO THE P.R. PUBLIC SO THE PUERTO RICANS CAN GO AGAINST THERE OWN PEOPLE(LATIN KINGS)..... LET IT BE KNOWN THAT EVERYTHING U READ IN THE PAPER OR HEAR IN THE NEWS IS NOT ACCURATE!!! TO ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS I SAY "AMOR DE REY" KING UNIVERSAL
BLOODLINE DIVISION, BPT, CONN.
Hold on. ya niggas aint gonna shit on my crew like dat. LK stand up. we wasnt tryna hurt nor harm no 1. Aight so jus chill wit dat shit. LK all day. 5 poppin 6 droppin