Puerto Ricans Fight through Hard Times at this Year’s 59th Annual Parade

Story and photos by Senait Gebregiorgis

Even as the debt crisis battered the island back home, New Yorkers hit the streets of Manhattan for the National Puerto Rican Day parade on Sunday. Puerto Rico is facing more than $70 billion of debt due to several deferred costs and municipal bonds.

The parade’s 59th year took place at Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, and featured the usual live musical performances and dance. Participants in red, white and blue gathered beginning on 44th street, stretching on to 79th street.

This year’s honorees included actress Rosario Dawson, New York Knicks basketball player Carmelo Anthony and musician Ednita Nazario. The parade’s theme, “Un Pueblo, Muchas Voces” (“One Nation, Many Voices,”) resonated with many — especially in the wake of the many Latino lives lost during the shooting in Orlando early Sunday morning. Floats displayed signs of LGBT solidarity, marriage equality, the fight against bullying, equal rights and women rights.

Harlemites like Toni Viruet enjoyed the celebration. Viruet described how growing up in Spanish Harlem helped teach her some of the morals and values of her Puerto Rican culture.

“The food, the heritage, we’re just open people,” Viruet said. “It’s all about family. If you’re good to us then we’re good to you, then it turns to a family forever.”

The island has been struggling with a long recession, with a decline in businesses and rising unemployment. It has led many of the residents to move to the United States mainland. But many refused to let economic problems Puerto Rico is facing put a damper on the day.

Serafin Melecio, a vendor from Brooklyn, attended this year’s parade, while selling Puerto Rican flags, hats and beads. “Whether we’re going through a social or economic hardship we always find a way to just come, participate and let our fellow brothers and sisters know we’re standing their besides them,” Melecio said. “It’s just like an extension of a family.”