I love this parade. But does it also celebrate food in Central Park? I kinda remember food and info booths in Central Park. Everyone is welcome. There are lots of other Hispanics. My family is from Ciales, PR and before from the Canary Islands and Catalonia. Thank you. PS. when dogs bark we usually ignore them.

And what? so stop being so damn ignorant america is a place of freedom

First off all u hating ass people who arent as proud as us puerto ricans need to shut the fuck the fuck up and stop making stupis remarks we are not immigrants of this country and if any thing we are more entitled to celebrate our day here more than any one of you wanna bees so so dont hate us for being proud of who we are where we come from and what we do you all know very well that yous would like to be apart of it too so kick rocks bare footed!!!

SO WHEN THE PUERTO RICAN DAY COMES AROUND, ALWAYS REMEMBER, WE DESERVE TO MARCH UP 5TH AVE

WE HAVE PAID IN BLOOD.

In 1873, the Spanish crown issued a new colonial flag for Puerto Rico. The new flag resembled the flag of Spain but with the coat of arms of Puerto Rico in the middle. This flag was used on the island until 1898, the year that the island became a possession of the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Paris (1898) as the aftermath of the Spanish-American War.

Some sources document Francisco Gonzalo Marin with presenting a Puerto Rican flag prototype in 1895 for adoption by the Puerto Rican Revolutionary Committee in New York City. Marín has since been credited with the flag's design. However, Antonio Vélez Alvarado probably deserves the credit. On June 12, 1892, Vélez was at his apartment at 219 Twenty-Third Street in Manhattan, when he stared at a Cuban flag for a few minutes, and then took a look at the blank wall in which it was being displayed. Vélez suddenly perceived an optical illusion, in which he perceived the image of the Cuban flag with the colors in the flag's triangle and stripes inverted. Almost immediately he visited a nearby merchant, Domingo Peraza, from whom he bought some crepe paper to build a crude prototype. He later displayed his prototype in a dinner meeting at his neighbor's house, where the owner, Micaela Dalmau vda. de Carreras, had invited José Martí as a guest. Martí was pleasantly impressed by the prototype, and made note of it in a newspaper article published in the Cuban revolutionary newspaper Patria, published on July 2 of that year. Acceptance of the prototype was slow in coming, but grew with time. Marín, who decided to have a proper flag sewn based on the prototype, presented the new flag's design in New York's "Chimney Corner Hall" a gathering place of independence advocates two years later. The flag "Puerto Rican Flag" (with the light blue triangle) soon came to symbolize the ideals of the Puerto Rican independence movement[4].

It should be noted that some people believe that Manuel Besosa was the designer, based on a letter written by his daughter. The flag was banned by the Spanish crown and later by the American insular government. The flag consists of five stripes that alternate from red to white. Three of the stripes are red, and the other two are white. To the left of the flag is a light blue triangle that houses one white five-pointed star. Each part of this flag has its own meaning. The three red stripes represent the blood from the brave warriors. The two white stripes represent the victory and peace that they would have after gaining independence. The white star represented the island of Puerto Rico. The blue represents the sky and blue coastal waters. The triangle represents the three branches of government.[5]

The 45-star flag, the first U.S. flag flown in Puerto RicoFrom 1898 to 1952 it was considered a felony to display the Puerto Rican flag in public; the only flag permitted to be flown on the island was the flag of the United States. In 1948, Puerto Ricans were permitted to elect a governor. The newly elected governor Luis Muñoz Marín and his administration adopted the Marín version of the Puerto Rican flag in 1952, in which the triangle was a dark blue resembling that of the flag of the United States, and proclaimed it the official national flag of Puerto Rico.[6]

QUE VIVA PUERTO RICO

Woa wait, Puerto Ricans are still considered Hispanics? I thought we got kicked from being Hispanics because of belonging to the US.

Look, every major event will leave streets full of garbage, people will be harrased and fights will start.

But come on, let us forget about this White and Puerto Rican thing and lets focus on what really matters, we need to get rid of the blacks!

And yes I'm joking. Kinda sad I have to explain that now a days.

Whoa, some insane racism going on in the comments, huh?

I would also add that there's a good amount of classism going on too, since many of the comments also sound like rants against the urban poor.

And to try to answer the question of why the (insert name of minority here) would hold a Pride day? Hmmm... Maybe because of all the effin' bigots that roam the land and feel free to insult them on a daily basis? That's my guess.

The majority of people who attend the puerto rican day parade are U.S mainland born puerto ricans. In fact, the parade was created for them -- not necessarily to celebrate Puerto Rican culture as much as it was to celebrate New-yorican culture. For the most part, Puerto Ricans from the island (of Puerto Rico, not Manhattan) have disdain for the PRP and do not attend. They think of it as a mis-representation of their culture. Some may even argue that this disdain borders on snobbery or classism (since many Puerto Ricans with this view tend to be middle or upper-middle class).

Because Puerto Rico is a commonwealth (colony) of the United States it can not be deemed 3rd world. It is in fact the most propserous of the islands in greater antilles.

As for the large amounts of trash, I would say that there just may not be enough recepticles to house the garbage generated by the millions of people who attend or participate in the parade. It doesn't help that marketers, promoters and politicians frequently distribute material along the route since they view the parade as a prime medium to reach out to the increasingly powerful and influential Hispanic market. If there were less pamplets and hand-outs, and more trash cans along the route, you would have less trash on the streets.

I have tolerance. I was just asking a question. I wouldn't move to the UK and have a YAY USA parade. Just wondering why to celebrate someplace you are from and not just live there if it is so great.

We didn't leave a place. We are native new yorkers, born to parents from the islands or elsewhere. In this melting pot we call America, all cultures have been given their day in the sun. Be it on 5th Avenue, or other parts of the city.

Open your minds, embrace diversity, and learn some tolerance.

Why do people who leave a place to come here have a parade to celebrate that place? Why leave it in the first place if it is so wonderful?

#40, thank you for saying something reasonable rather than hateful.

I thought this was supposed to be the "Greatest City in the World" (albeit self-proclaimed). It's a shame that the comments here really showcase people's intolerance and disrespect, and make this place seem uglier than ever.

nice parade

All you white cracker ass mofos are just jealous because you wish your sisters(white women) look 1/4 as good as the latina women . but instead you have to stay home or go to your little out of town cribs to molest little boys and girls because thats tightest buns you can get. and all those jew's living on 5th avenue . why the f are you complaining ya have a history of living in places that you don't belong and then you want people to cater to you. they bombin your ass in the middle east so now you want to migrate to nyc and take over . f.u .

if ya have so much money why dont you make your own continent with land fills and build on that ,clearly your not welcome anywhere losers. as for the cultureless people occupying the city or 5th ave .the latin culture will still cause your buildings to shake every year like it or not :)

cops disrespect latinos everyday ,judges lock latins up to make $$ for the city while you guys sit at home with your thumbs up your asses complaining for one days even ,grow the f up . you dont have no real issues exept greed and you think s--- goes the way you dictate . remember mofos this is what a free country is about.. at least here we dont have idiots blowing themselves up to make the stupidest statement know to man . so what you can blow s---- up that s---- still doesnt pay the bills morons lmfao.

I was on my way to a kids birthday party at Victorian Gardens Central Park with my two girls (2 & 5) today and we were fine despite all the shouting, screaming, and car honking at the parade. Of course, there was a cop practically every 15 feet along 5th and 6th Avenue, which I guess is standard issue these days for an event of any size in the city. The only thing that really bothered me about the PR parade compared to other NYC events was the amount of filth people dumped all over the streets. Its one thing to litter the sidewalks with paper, but another to trash it with food, cans, etc. It was like someone dumped half of the Fishkills landfill in midtown Manhattan, which is usually spotless during the work week. I have no problems with the noise, but all that garbage just reinforces all the negative stereotypes

Wow! I never heard such hatred in my 52 years. I was born in NY to Puerto Rican parents and I'm a resident of upper westchester county. Married with 2 sons; college grads, who never recognized color or race, just people. They appreciate their inhertied heritage and culture, but they move more to the american drum than the latin congas.

There are many more like us, educated, successful, well mannered with morals and respect.

One bad apple doesn't spoil the whole bag. The past actions of some undesirables did not help improve the unfortunate negative impression some already had of the PR parade. But, that's not what we are all about.

It's great to still be marching down 5th avenue. It's great to march in small towns in the suburbs too. As far as Harlem and the Bronx, we'll march there too. If some of you hadn't noticed we are many..., and by the way much of Harlem is looking pretty good these days.

We are not third world and some of you are the most ignorant and racist individuals on Gods earth. Thank God my sons friends (who happen to be white) are not like some of you.

For you dumbasses who missed their history classes and still managed to get H.S. Diplomas!!

Puerto Ricans are not immigrants!! Check it out...ha ha...Its funny they migrated here before they were granted citizenship.They had tobacco They did not even wanted it but because of the Imperialistic views of the USA they wanted the freaking Island because of Communist. Spain gave it up after ruling since 1493 to the USA after invading the Island. They are peace loving people who had sacrifice themselves along with other ethnic groups longer then most. Point being is everyone else is really an immigrant but puerto ricans are native of their land who were conqueor and assimilated. They were naturalized in 1940 by President Roosevelt and granted Citizenship in 1917. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, but they lack some of the rights of citizenship, including the right to vote for president.

Yet they have served, and died, in the military for generations. Since 2003, dozens of Puerto Ricans have been killed in Iraq. Mandalit del Barco visits some of their families.

"It's as though Puerto Rico were crying," says Leo Montalvo, as he looks out the window at the downpour from a tropical thunderstorm that's coming down hard on the city of Mayaguez. He and some of his 12 brothers and sisters are gathered at the house, grieving over word that their 46-year-old-brother Jesus was gunned down in combat, just four days before his mission was to end. He was reportedly the 55th soldier from this island to die while fighting for the United States in Iraq. Montalvo's family buried him Sunday. God BLess them.

For all those who served our military. Including me as a puerto rican and my brother who served in the Persian Gulf for Oil as a 82nd Airborned Paratrooper. To my cousin who served the Marine. Yes we are proud of being Puerto Rican ! What sacrifices did you make? Who bled more? Except for the blacks. Which I repect for their sacrifices and still receives no respect. I only could guess how angry they are because they gave their blood as well.

By the way you have to check your stats Puerto Ricans for the majority are quiet and have one day to enjoy themselves.

To that Latino guy, not everybody who looks down upon Latinos is a closet racist. You people are generally not good people. You have weird manners and a very disturbing understanding of 1st world manners. This is the reason why you are 3rd world.

I hope this abomination of parade will be shut down or take it up to the shithole Harlem area. Puerto Rican Day Parade is disgusting and a big shame on our city. You don't belong in Manhattan.

But the good thing is that in a couple of years all trashy people will live in the Bronx or in Brownsville.

Actually, the Puerto Ricans should be billed with cleaning up 5th Avenue.

America = #1

You don't like it? Then leave and go back to your 3rd world shitholes. Lets see what kind of parade you can pull off there.

You have to adjust to our values, it will never be the other way around.

Hey this is funny.

http://gothamist.com/2007/03/13/outcry_over_mta.php

I remember this for the St. Patrick's Parade.

Now that is crazy!!

Cheers !

Hello my fellow parade haters.

I for one hate crowds but I love to watch the excitement that is generated by countless of people from different ethnic backgrounds, plus the music ! Some parades are crazier than others. At least no one got killed at the P.R parade. By the way not at all who was arrested that day in 2000 were Puerto Rican. To the smart haters out there about the Puerto Rican parade go and google your facts first please. My friends which includes all ethnic backgrounds have said the debauchery and brawliest comes from a small group of hooligans from every ethnic parade.

Yes I am puerto rican but I dont for one wave the flag. I own my own business and have different ethnic partners. Its sad people can be so narrow minded. If I acted like you I can be a hater so easily by not hiring and dealing with white people. That would be quite foolish and not to say the least quite stupid!. Enjoy the music and get a life. I love NYC for its diversity and warm embrace for all.

And for those a little above average Puerto Ricans did not immigrate here they were assimilated by the imperialistic politics of the USA.

Remember not everyone lives to the venom stereotypes that are share by many.