The West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA) hosted its 45th year of the West Indian American Labor Day Carnival yesterday. Caribbeans and non-Caribbeans alike took part in the annual display of mas, music, fun and revelry under the theme of “Unity, History, Culture”
In honor and recognition of Jamaica and Trinidad’s 50th Anniversary of Independence Jamaican actor, singer and activist Harry Belafonte and Trinidad’s Soca Monarch, Machel Montano, served as the parade Grand Marshalls.
The West Indian American Day Parade: Parade started at 11AM on Eastern Parkway & Schenectady Avenue and made its way the to Flatbush Avenue. Along the parade route there were lots of revelers, Costume Bands, Masqueraders, Moko Jumbies, Floats and lots of food representing all the many nations of the Caribbean.
Despite the fact that, there were the all too often unfortunate acts of violence (two people were stabbed and two were shot according to the NYT Times.), for the most part the parade went off without a hitch and fun was had by most!
RCS Sidebar: Cops escorted Councilman Jumaane Williams through the event this year — after shoving and cuffing him last year, unaware he was a politician. After last year’s event, 17 cops were disciplined for writing nasty racial comments on a Facebook page.
