The West Indian Labor Day Parade returned to Brooklyn in full force after two years of restrictions due to the pandemic. Over 100thousand participants and one and a half million spectators fled the streets of the New York borough starting at 6AM with the J’ouvert festival, followed by the big carnival parade. Caribbean colors, costumes, food and music filled the air up with joy and enthusiasm.
J’Ouvert is a symbol of post slavery emancipation. It starts before sunrise because it is the dawn of a new day, of a new era, an expression of freedom.
The celebrations have been plagued by violence in the past years. Not this time.
“Safe night. Not one shooting last night in J’Ouvert, not one,” said NYC Mayor Eric Adams.
The West Indian Carnival Parade started at 11A.M., going West on Eastern Parkway from Ralph Avenue. As every year, the celebration was loud, colorful and enthusiastic.
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