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Yesterday, the heat and crowds couldn't keep an estimated 2 million people from celebrating their heritage with the 51st Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. As one 23-year-old woman told the Sun, "We're all from the island anyways. It's this hot in Puerto Rico, so I come no matter what. Everyone is proud of where we come from."
Another spectator who traveled from Massachusetts told the Daily News, "It makes you feel like you're at home - the music, the people, the crowd. It's very hot, but worth it." Still, the weather--well into the mid-90s--was a big part of the parade. Newsday noticed some politicians understandably wilting: "New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine sweated through his white button-down shirt and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo wiped his brow often with a handkerchief."
The parade's Grand Marshal was labor leader Dennis Rivera, and a number of elected officials were on hand including NY Governor David Paterson, Senator Chuck Schumer, Puerto Rican Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila, Representative Anthony Weiner and Mayor Bloomberg who helped cut a ribbon to start the parade. One first-time marcher was Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. The NYPD, whose 200 arrests during last year's parade caused some controversy, could not confirm the arrest count yet, but three people were arrested a block from the Fifth Avenue parade route for selling candy containing pot while three were arrested for possession of the pot lollipops and/or Gummi bears.
Puerto Rican members of the NYPD greeting revelers. (Photograph by PayPaul (Leader of The WW Tribe) on Flickr)
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What a picture of authority. And what the hell is the obsession with all the flags?
On St. Patrick's Day the American (Irish) cops can't drink in uniform. But I guess they can wildly wave flags and hoot and holler.
Those flags are dangerous. My 5 y.o. niece and 3 y.o. nephew (after the Greek parade) were waving those damn mini Greek flags with gusto for days after that parade. Until one of them got struck and started crying. How many young Puerto Ricans will have been injured by reckless flag waving?
I'll take the over on the number of arrests.
Pot candy? What flavors does that come in?
mayor bloomberg loves the latinas.
this is the only parade that successfully shuts down the eastern side of central park. it should be banned or relocated to east brooklyn.
OOOOOH, I'm eagerly anticipating the arrest number and stories that are sure to come to light about this year's parade-- pot lollipops & drug laced gummy bears? This crime ridden event never ceases to amaze me with it's creative ways to get arrested:)
Walking west on West 96th Street yesterday afternoon with my two-year-old son, three young hispanic gentlemen pass going the other way and then one shouts from behind me:
"Yo Mister! Yo Mister! Where's the parade?"
I tell him it's on Fifth Avenue, at which point he looks confused and his friends look embarrassed for him. "That's on the other side of the park -- you have to walk through the park," I say. To which he classically responds:
"Yo! That's a lot of walking, man!!!"
Judging by the comments on this post its nice to see the Racist Redneck population is still alive & well in NYC.
it all comes from the editors....
racism that is, did they cover the parade or the BBQ in Madison square...
which one was for interloping hipsters and which was for the natives?
Like st pattys, all NYers are Puerto Rican on Parade day, but most are no longer nyers like the Mayor who show his faces at everything even though that mofo is from boston....
yeah suckaz, complain about gothamist all you want if it aint asain or jewish this site dont push it.....screw em not those communities but those who ideas of NY isnt about 2/3rds of the population here..
those of African or Latino heritage....your voice is only here when it is the topic of the blame the minority....see them protest or be criminal.... HAH suckaz!
Selling pot in candy with tons of police around. Guess they didn't think any undercover cops will be around nor any cops for that matter.
Phew! I bet those cops were hot in those uniforms.
DWM2008, Embrace punctuation. It can help you sound like you have at least a half a brain.
dont you mean "speak ENLISH!"...this is the web mofo, be grammitically correct isnt the issue nor is this the PEN.org site! get a life and leave nyc you racist bastage!
don't you mean go back to China?
"Racist"?
We are, all of us, just one a/c window unit and a stack of food stamps away from having a Puerto Rican family.
DWM2008 has been posting incomprehensible rants since at least the congestion pricing discussions, it's no surprise that it continues now.
I wish we were back to the paper foodstamps.
that way I can buy a soda and get money back. now they force you to use an ATM type card.
Funny how you don't see "American Day Parades" in, say, Europe.
What's the point of all these parades, really? Yes, we know you're [insert ethnicity here]. Thank you. We would NEVER have known until you blocked off half the city telling us all that, you are indeed, what you say you are.
A tame comment spree this year. Good to see the Puerto Rican Day/St. Patrick's Day analogy is still going strong. Nice auto-backpat JTerry! Sometimes I think we should award a prize to the first person to jump in with the "this internet message board proves once and again that racism is alive and well" type post. Maybe a hand-job from the poster's professor of choice at either Columbia or NYU? I personally have never visited the PR Day parade and thus have no opinion on it.
This from someone named "Bingo Ramirez."
You got it all wrong as usual Bingo. It's just an anecdote. I'll explain:
1) Young non-threatening Hispanic man on way to parade yet he had no idea where it was -- funny.
2) Same young man upon being informed that parade was on Fifth Avenue still had no idea where parade was -- funnier.
3) Young man's two friends rolling their eyes at their friend and also looking embarrassed that he would stop and ask someone on the street, let alone a white guy -- funniest.
4) Young man's final comment -- classic.
Bingo, you're an idiot.
That is all.
what's a "chipster"?
Nobody talks more anonymous online tough-guy bullshit that Ringo. And nobody reinforces negative racial stereotypes more than him either.
If you people aren't gonna be saying anything nice why leave a comment at all let people have fun tthe way they want. why just because puerto ricans have a parade and are having fun we are being attacked? we get noticed for this one big day of the year for us that is but, all other cultures any other day of the year are recognized because of their brutality and you never hear about puerto ricans until this one day of the year now all you ignorants open your eyes and expand your mind and think outside the box!!!!!
Hey Art! Can't you see the police officers are mostly Puerto Rican? It's better to see them happy and participating directly instead of having the attitude they express during the West Indian Parade.