Update: Friday, July 2
According to community activist Yaacov Behrman, the schedule and location of this year’s Labor Day events have yet to be finalized.
Behrman, the chairman of the Public Safety Committee for Community Board 9, told COLlive, “As far as I know, nothing has been finalized yet. The parade organizers applied for permits from the Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO) for Eastern Parkway from Grand Army Plaza until Lincoln Terrace Park.
“The parade organizers have not yet issued any statements about the parade. I think we need to be sensitive and show respect and let the organizers clarify for themselves about whether their parade will take place or not,” Behrman said.
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By COLlive reporter
The annual Labor Day – West Indian Day Parade which takes place in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Crown Heights is not likely to take place this year, a source in the NYPD has said.
The parade, which takes place on Labor Day – the first Monday in September – every year, is held on the main thoroughfare of Eastern Parkway, from Utica Avenue to Parkside Avenue. Millions of people from around the world descend on the neighborhood, which is closed to traffic for many hours.
The event leads to the closure of many avenues and streets in the area, leaving the streets around the parade cut off from anyone driving in or out of the neighborhood during those hours.
This year, Labor Day falls on September 6, which is also Erev Rosh Hashanah. This was causing worry to many Jewish residents, as the day before Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, is a busy one, during which we prepare for one of the holiest days of the year as well as a holiday.
Chanina Sperlin of the CHJCC was contacted by residents who inquired whether at least one avenue could be opened to traffic, so residents could drive to Shul, shopping, and to pray at the Rebbe’s Ohel in Queens.
Sperlin reached out to a source in the New York Police Department, who informed him that as of now, “there are no plans for a West Indian parade to take place in Crown Heights this year.”
“A source in the NYPD said that the parade committee has not planned or organized anything as of yet,” Sperlin told COLlive. “They have not planned any floats or events to take place along Eastern Parkway.”
Last year’s parade was held virtually due to COVID. This year, there may be some events held in other areas of Brooklyn, such as near the Brooklyn Museum, Sperlin was told.
“As of now, it seems that Eastern Parkway and much of Crown Heights will be open and accessible to all traffic,” Sperlin said.
Calls to the offices of the West Indian Day Carnival to confirm this have not been returned.
NO MORE! Amen!
I remember another year when the parade was held erev rosh hashana. It was just asked about too soon as its many months away
September 1994. Erev RH was their parade.
I agree!
And why go to Manhattan , when we could come to Crown Heights?☹️
AMAZING GOOD NEWS !!!!!!!!!!!
the parade is not a religious observance. there is nothing about the west indian day parade that mandates it must be held on labor day. last year proved that, if need be, it can be done virtually, or postponed for a different date.
…by giving it its rightful place on 5th Avenue in Manhattan. That’s where the Puerto Ricans’ annual parade happens. That is where the Salute to Israel parade happens. That is where the S. Patrick’s day parade happens. And there are other parades all throughout the year.
**The Caribbean people of New York merit the same upgrade and change of venue.**
But I have heard there are a “limited” number of parade permits for these yearly big parades in Manhattan & no more are available – plus I have a feeling that the politicians in Manhattan are so not anxious for this always violent event
Black Lives Matter, The Caribbean Community in NYC have been discriminated against for about 70 Years since the start of The Jouvert / West Indian Day Parade / Labor Day Parade Carnival Events. Every Fancy Parade, And Every Parade that matters are all located with Respect on 5th Avenue in the prime Center of Manhattan NYC. This includes the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Israeli Day Parade, The Puerto Rican Day Parade, The Pride Parade, The Patricks Day Parade & many many more Annual Parades every year. Why is the African American Community being Discriminated against??? The Caribbean Community should be able to proudly… Read more »
The african-american community and the carribean american community are two different communities.
as most Carribean americans who take part in the parade are celebrating their culture and roots which originate in Africa
so it really depends
The african- american and carribean- american communities are not the same communities and don’t have identical cultures, but for purposes of the parade it’s obvious that increasingly more african americans are participating. i’m not a maven, but just walking through the streets of C.H. on labor day it seems the number of carribean-americans participants is somewhat smaller than in years past, while the number of african- americans participating, in recent years, has grown; so have the numbers of yuppie spectators…
It’s bill debalsio last few months in office, you can bet there will be a parade. Just because the police say it’s not happening doesn’t mean anything. Perhaps they are just going to do the parade without police (hence their defund the police mentality)
There was another parade (this week I think) in NYC and they didn’t want police there
There has been enough parades here for the next two decades!