Perico ripiao, bachata, typical merengue, joy, shouts of emotion, happy looks, and thousands of flags with the colors vermilion red, ultramarine blue, and white, took over several streets of Manhattan this Sunday, in the 41st edition of the popular Dominican Parade.
miles from Quisqueyanos from all corners from the Big Apple, and even from neighboring states, such as New Jersey, Connecticut and even Pennsylvania, crowded along Sixth Avenue since noon, between streets 37 and 52, to reaffirm that Dominicans are a fundamental part of New York, and that its seal is as alive and present as the Statue of Liberty itself.
“Platanolandia (a word some Dominicans use to refer to the island for the traditional banana) has long since taken root in this city, and wherever people walk, they see Dominicans infecting the whole world with joy”, said Neno Martínez, originally from Santo Domingowho lives in the Alto Manhattan since 1998. “I am from that side, but as a good Dominican, I put down roots here and also there, so we always bring good things to this city, but we never part with there.”
Yorcana Ortizwho did not stop shouting and dancing while the floats that graced the parade passed by one by one, also declared her pride, and with a lot of coquetry and grace, she assured that in addition to happy people, the dominicans They are “the best”.
“We are divine, divine, and everyone knows that, and celebrating our Dominicanness in this parade is a wonderful gift”, assured the Dominican, while her daughter Nashla Ortiz, with the same emotion, assured that the main hallmark that characterizes Dominicans is their “unique culture”.
and although the parade was attended by personalities from the New York political sphere, such as the Governor, Kathy Hochul, who walked a couple of blocks, Mayor Eric Adamswho did not stop smiling, the Ombudsman, Jumaane Williams, who exuded simplicity, the president of the borough of Brooklyn, Antonio Reynoso, full of energy and the Fiscal Letitia James, who even greeted the attendees with the popular Dominican greeting throughout the tour “what what what”, it was Senator Chuck Schumer, who stole the show.
With great grace, the leader of the federal Senate did not stop asking the crowd in Spanish “where are the Dominicans”and to the rhythm of the music he showed his skills to dance typical merengue, which moved those present.
Actor Manny Perezthe presenter Celinés Toribio, the boxer Carlos Adames, the NYPD Latin music group, officers from the island proudly wearing their blue dress uniform, typical dance dancers, young people moving to the rhythm of urban themes, and the Miss Dominican World, María Victoria Bayoalso graced the event, considered a heritage of the Big Apple.
“It’s definitely clear that You can’t talk about New York without talking about the Dominicans. Dominicans are an important part of the development of this city in every way, we are workers, we are teachers, we are in politics and in small businesses. We help move the city,” said the state assemblywoman Amanda Seventh, born in The Bronx, of Dominican origin. “But at the same time, a characteristic of the Dominican is that he is always very connected to the culture and we transmit it here as well.”
The Dominican Parade, whose slogan this year was “Our History, Our People”, It also had the Dominican President Luis Abinaderas Grand Marshal, whose presence divided opinions.
Attendees at the event, which also became a political arena, in which supporters of different candidates for next year’s elections in the Dominican Republic demonstrated, felt honored by the presence of the president, as Jose Atehortua.
“A president had never come to greet us and I loved that gesture from Luisito. I think we are going for four more years with him in power,” said the Dominican, originally from Constanza.
others like Celina Monterothey tried to get the attention of the Dominican president and at the top of his lungs he yelled at him to work harder for the main needs of the people of Quisqueyans, especially women.
The Dominican Elianny Salcedo assures that the greatest pride of Dominicans is cultureCredit: Edwin Martínez | Impremedia
“President do something for us. Many of us cannot see our family again because things are very hard there. Men are killing women and they are doing nothing. Crime is growing. do something that I voted for you”, said the excited woman.
Members of the organization Marea Verde, including Dominican feminist defenders and the Center for Women’s Equality, spoke out in the parade in favor of reproductive freedom and demanded a reform of the Dominican penal code on abortion laws in that country.
“United women will never be defeated, united women will never be defeated”, was the slogan that the protesters, carrying green T-shirts as a banner, did not stop shouting throughout the route, where they also clamored to promote the call “butterfly effect for reproductive rights.
Other Dominicans preferred to emphasize cultural values and the promotion of the country’s history, such as the representatives of the Duartiano Institute in New York.
Dressed in a vermilion red suit, one of the colors of the Dominican flag, Elianny Salcedoinsisted on the importance of preserving the Quisqueya culture in the Big Apple.
“Our greatest pride as Dominicans is our cultureand I feel very proud, because Dominicans contribute a lot to the city and it is good that they recognize us for the good things we do, and not only point us out for the bad ones,” said the young woman, originally from Santiago.
The parade, which formally started at almost 2:00 in the afternoon, lasted for several hours, without setbacks, and had several boxes in the middle of the route, where tribute was paid to the personalities that graced it.
And while they waited their turn to parade, artistic groups, athletes, singers, and floats from radio programs such as La Mega and Telemundo, who were among the last to take over Sixth Avenue, lit up an alternate party between 37th and 38th streets, in the that the dance reigned.
“As we are ushered into the parade, we have fun here. You already know that we Dominicans throw parties anywhere, and today is our day not only to feel proud of who we are but also to dance and enjoy until it gets dark”commented the young Dominican Alexis de los Santos.
In the end, the Dominican flags stopped waving through the streets where the parade ran, but as he assured Magali Sarayborn in El Cibao, the seal of those born in Quisqueya is never erased from the City that is home to the second Dominican Republic in the world.
“Here among toitos we are many and no one can deny that joy never ends in New York, because we Dominicans are that little flavor that gives this city a special touch. We are that banana, that mangú with flavor, that brings joy to the Big Apple and to everyone, wherever they are from,” said the woman with a laugh, who continued dancing to the song “Suero de amor de Kinito Mendez,” which was performed by a band at the parade: “I am Ogun-Balenyó, and I come from the olive trees to shake hands with the sick and lift up the fallen”….
2023-08-13 22:19:03
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