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Yesterday saw tens of thousands of people celebrating the 25th Annual Dominican Day Parade on Sixth Avenue. The parade's organizer, Carlos Velasquez, told the Sun, "The crowd is getting younger and younger as they're learning the language and becoming a part of the city."
The parade went up Sixth Avenue, from 36th Street to 62nd Street and Central PArk West. Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn marched amidst floats, dancers and diablos cojuelo, aka lame devils who are "spirits of mishief".
However, there were some incidents that marred the festivities. A sixteen-year-old boy broke a bottle over a 43-year-old's head at 43rd Street and Fifth Avenue (block over from the parade) while a man was stabbed in the stomach around 59th Street and Seventh Avenue. Additionally, we heard that there were some unruly crowds in Washington Heights, with groups of people, wielding bottles and bats, chasing children in and out of buildings and trapping some residents in their apartments. One teenaged paradegoer was neutral about the violence, "Things happen. There's a lot of people out here. When it gets crowded like this, there's going to be drama."
Photograph of a young Dominican Day Parade reveler in the subway by amintorres on Flickr
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Soooo glad I no longer live in midtown. If there isn't a parade every weekend there's a streetfair.
first, spelling: "spirits of misChief." ok, not a big deal.
jen, you are awesome and for the most part, so is gothamist. but this type of post is just a call to arms for the racist trolls. seriously, 2 very brief paragraphs re: the basics of the parade, and then one loooooong paragraph a/b the violence and negativity. you guys say you hate the racists as much as i do, but you've got to realize that this type of post is inevitably going to bring them out. how about a description of the floats, the food, and the music? where's the info on that? yet, it sure looks like you've done enough investigation into the violence and negative aspects. i'm beginning to think you write like this to call the trolls out, start warfare in the comments, and increase your hits and thereby ad revenue. please correct me? i want to think the best of you guys, because, like i said, i truly enjoy gothamist, but sometimes... sigh, i just get sad about this type of thing and wonder why you do it.
I dont understand why any time people get together to celebrate something in large groups someone ends up getting stabbed. This is regardless of race or location.
wtf is wrong with people.
hell even at a family reunion i went to a few years ago ended with my cousin beating up one of our distant relatives.
That kid is such a cherub!
"Things happen. There's a lot of people out here. When it gets crowded like this, there's going to be drama."
Oh yeah? Really? Last time I went to the Polish Pride Parade, the Israel Day Parade, or the Gay Parade, I didn't hear anything about people chasing children around the neighborhood with bottles and bats, nor did anyone break anything over my head. Nor did I have to worry about being chased around the neighborhood or having something broken over my head.
And #2, even a little bit of violence overshadows all the joy in the world. You know why? Because while you were enjoying the sights and sounds of the reverly, someone was senselessly getting injured or killed. The fact that we care about innocent people is what makes America so great, because there are many parts of the world where people are getting slaughtered left and right, and no one seems to give a shit.
Must... suppress... urge to make inappropriate comment about what people chase children around the neighborhood with at the Gay Pride Parade.
Must... suppress... urge to call JMH an ignorant, bigoted asshole.
Oh, wait, no I don't.
What noone failed to mention were the hotties riding on the floats. I spit out my coffee as I turned to page 2 of today's "Metro" newspaper. Holy bazungas!
Things happen when you get a large group of low income / low education level people together.
What people failed to mention were the hotties riding on the floats. I spit out my coffee as I turned to page 2 of today's "Metro" newspaper. Holy bazungas!
Guess I'm gonna pick up Metro later...
Ghetto is as ghetto does.
What do dominicans have to be so proud of? Have you noticed that those who have least to be proud of throw the most ridiculous parades? Dominicans, PR, blacks, etc... What exactly do these people have to be proud of????
That was the best advertisement for the Metro in the history of the paper. "Bazungas on Page 2"
There are too many parades in New York. It needs to stop. Also, Why the fuck do these people need a parade? Same for the Puerto Ricans, and EVERY other ethnic parade. I hate them all. There should only be two parades in New York. The Thanksgiving parade, and a ticker tape parade only if and when one of the city's baseball or football teams win their sports championship. That's it.
I hate the Puerto Rican assholes, I hate the Dominican assholes (and as a side note, most of them are probably illegal anyway, they should have their parade back in the DR, not here, regardless of their citizenship and WTF do the PR's need a parade too?) I hate the Columbus day parade, I hate the St. Patricks day parade, I hate them ALL!!!
Calm down, Other Islander, I wasn't serious, I was just making a bad joke. Sorry if it was misunderstood.
15: And there you have it ladies and Gentlemen.
-Ph
Well isn't it sweet that there is the ability to comment as guests, so that KKK types can make the comments here that they're too sissified too make on the street. Ignorant beyond belief. Knowing these low IQ racist haters are still out there keeps the sensible and intelligient of us strong.
I've said it before, in the street. I hate all this PC bullshit that allows any and every ethnic or "special" group to have a fucking parade.
Last I heard Puerto Rico was a US territory and PR's are US citizens. No more illeagal than those dirty Rhode Islanders.
Why do both the Dominican and PR parades absolutely trash 6th ave. Garbage everywhere, cans and food thrown about. I doubt these people are that filthy in their own homes, though maybe I am wrong there. You don't see that after any other parade. These parades should have been ended while they had a chance. The organizers should have to finance both the police presence and the sanitation work completely, 0 tax dollars should be spent on this.
Lol, The "Editor Lady" does it again ! I love this site, Stoop too the lowest level to dredge a story and run with it ! Classic Gothamist I tell ya, Classic ! I'm going to start referring to this site as the "Gothamist Tabloid", Because that's all that goes on here ! Posted by; "Still Not Amused"
why shouldn't she post these articles. if you are embarrassed at the conduct of many of these parade goers, you should be, sweeping it under the rug for the sake of being PC is bull.
Ethnic pride parades are ugly in many ways, particularly in the very idea that an accident of birth needs celebration and worship in the form of "pride." If dominicans, irish, etc., want to be proud of the accomplishments of some baseball player, media whore, whatever, then why don't they also take stock of all the shame from crime and other social ills that dominicans, irish (back then), etc., cause?? Honestly, it's sheer hypocrisy, and a very bad display of manners and character. From high school, we all know that the loudest attention whores are also those who contribute the least to the general weal. Ethnic pride parades are actually shameful and bring scornful thoughts even to some of the most otherwise liberal of intellectuals and thinkers.
23 - well said.
"Last I heard Puerto Rico was a US territory and PR's are US citizens. No more illeagal than those dirty Rhode Islanders."
Hey dumbass, I said the DOMONICANS were probably illegal, not the PR's. Learn how to READ before you shoot your mouth off.
Yeah JMH -- not funny. You made a bad gay joke in the "Mets Fan Catches Record Breaking Home Run Ball" article too. If you're going to make a potentially offensive joke, at least make sure it's humorous.
Well isn't it sweet that there is the ability to comment as guests, so that KKK types can make the comments here that they're too sissified too make on the street.
Because mentioning, and calling out, the absurdity of people getting "unruly crowds in Washington Heights, with groups of people, wielding bottles and bats, chasing children in and out of buildings and trapping some residents in their apartments" makes you a racist.
Got it.
#14
you just got a genuine CHORTLE out of me
well done!
#21:
0 tax dollars? Ok, Pat Buchanan.
Nothing wrong with posting this. You know what, if I gave damn about the floats, music, etc. I would have gone. The part that effects those of us who did not go was the violence, then extended well beyond the parade. Was on a train at 14th street when it was flooded with young celebrants chanting, yelling, waving flags, and oh yeah rocking the train back and forth, and in other ways causing mayhem. Speaking of which WTF were the parents. No way I let my kid out the door to go to a gathering like this without me. But then again kids like this likely have parents who don't give a shit.
Its not racist to point out the actions of others. Guarantee you if the PR day parade has violence it gets reported. Hell if the lesibians in the gay pride parade attacked others I bet you all the $ in the world it gets written up.
So blame the assholes like 26 for the racism here not the Jen or Gothamist, they are reporting a real story that affected far more people then it should have. Have whatever parade you want, but mob-mentality violence is BS whomever it comes from. So kudos Gothamist.
I'm not racist, I'm being honest and real.
Wow, I have a stalker.
And by the way, the joke in the HR Ball thread was a lot better than this one.
I live in Wash Heights, and i am Hispanic. let's get that out there right now. but the way a lot of people in my neighborhood (predominantly Dominican, for those of you that are unaware) behave is an utter embarrassment to me and should be to the Hispanic community in NYC. I returned home late last night and along with the usual loiterers out and about, there were even younger "revelers" making much noise, including many cars driving along the streets (more than usual) blaring ground shaking music at midnight while some of us try to sleep and ready ourselves for the work week. I called the local precinct (because I don't care about the "don't snitch" understanding when I'm tired) and the response from them was that they were bombarded with calls that night and they even had other precincts involved in trying to control the neighborhood.
it is my belief from living here for several years, as well as my family members before me, that a majority of the Dominican population, at least in Wash Heights, need the slightest excuse to cause a ruckus - loud music, pot smoking and heavy drinking alongside children and infants playing at very late hours of the night, and where food items, broken bottles and general trash are left for some poor old man to clean up after in the morning. a dominican day parade being THE best excuse of all. as far as instances of violence, I'm glad Gothamist brought it because maybe, by doing so, the organizers of the parade can prevent events like this from getting to the point the puerto rican parade did a few years back.
but more so, i wanted to comment on the irony of having a heritage pride parade when, generally speaking, in the largest enclave of this community people seem to show the least bit of pride or respect for itself on their own sidewalks. waving a flag around and shaking your "bazungas" to a bachata, or using the occasion as an excuse to drink and get loud (which may lead to violence) does not do service to your community. really take pride in your community every day of the year, encourage culture and education, respect your neighborhood and yearn for a better life... the reasons many of us come to this country, after all.
@JMH: Don't flatter yourself.
Other Islander: relax! How about a sense of humor?? And especially in a thread like this, you should allow these little jokes (even not so funny ones) to keep the mood positive. Don't create unnecessary hostilities by getting nasty.
I am Hispanic and would never go to any Latin themed parade in NYC. I would be too scared to go. I would fear for my safety and even my life.
I'm not being a racist, I'm being honest & real.
@37: Comparing gays to pedophiles isn't funny (how I read the "joke."). I think minority communities can laugh at themselves when the jokes are funny, but when the jokes are based on untrue and offensive stereotypes, it's a lot harder to see the humor.
I am Dominican and I live in Washingon Heights (good inexpensive apartments in the gentrifying "Hudson Heights") and I agree with #24, #35 and #38.
The accident of birth reminds me of the movie "The Wild Bunch". As the gang makes its way to the Rio Grande, the Mexican among them exclaims, "Mexico Lindo!". One Texan replies, "What the hell are you talking about? It looks just like more of Texas from here."
I also do stay away from ethnic parades, specially those from low income, low education group; they just embarrass me. Since I'm Dominican, I would think that I can't be accused of being racist. Call me a classist, if you want. I believe that those groups like to pretend that they are very proud of the homeland that couldn't feed them or provide them with economic and/or political freedom as a way to overcompensate and hide what would be a constant shame.
Do I have self-loathing? No, just cold-hearted pragmatism and I sleep very well at night.
thanks for the tip about the metro! too bad that newspaper just fired a columnist. those girls make me proud & i'm not dominican. very nice.
I am dominican and like #40..call me a classist to as I stay away from low income areas and "pride of the land!" parades as well.
The Ghetto Trash, The Trailer Park Trash are just one unruly bunch and act like a bunch of savages.
It's extremly shameful.
Don't pair us all together..these Dominicans are from poor families who stem from poverty in their homeland and fled and they don't appreciate the country that has given them something (i.e. the US).
The St. Patrick's day parade has it's share of problems with drunkeness as well.
Most people are gloating a big EGO at prades and forget what pride really means. Its just a place where people can go and think there being cool and having so much fun. Pride prades do nothing but celebrate a false sense of being unique. EVERYONE wants to be special. But until we celebrate our similarites and not our diffrences expect for people to be lost in a blaze of self worship and debauchery.
Well yeah, what do you expect from a bunch of barbaric savages. Fuckin' dummies-in-a-can!
i got stuck in this stupid parade last week. what a mess, i hated every second of it. i went for one thing, to go shopping on 5th avenue and i'm greeted by a bunch of wild, out of control, loud, obnoxious people. i really, really wanted out. not only that, but as i'm walking across the street in the midst a sea of all types of people, not just dominicans, i look behind me to see some nasty dominican pervert making jestures, harassing me and dancing behind me in a sexual fashion. i looked at him in disgust and to my delight i watched a cop grab him by the throat and drag him across the street. almost wanted to stay and watch what he did to him. lol.
when i move to the city i'll have to remember to avoid going out on days when these damn parades happen. they're so pointless and only encourage violence.
Ethnic parades, especially those that revolve around Blacks and Hispanic cultures, there is always somebody getting stabbed, shot, attacked, harrassed, etc.
Remember several years back at the PR Parade where women were getting their tops ripped off and yet the cops were blamed?
That is why whenever there is one of these Hispanic or Black parades going on, I stayed out of the city. I don't need these obnoxious idiots who are so insecure about themselves jam their "culture" down my throat.
Of course, saying this is racist. I then have to bad-mouth the St. Patrick's Day parade to show I am not a racist. No I am not. I never had a single problem with St. Patty's Day.
Ultimately, I am not the one with the problem. If Blacks and Hispanics in general are complaining that they are being stereotyped, then they should stop perpetuating these stereotypes by acting like idiots.
BTW, I am a Gay Asian male.