Knickerbocker Avenue from Menahan Street to Jefferson Street was a sea of waving Puerto Rican flags for three hours on June 9, as thousands came to the 6th Annual Knickerbocker Puerto Rican Day Parade. This celebration of Boricua culture is pure community heart as it lacks the corporate sponsorships that Manhattan’s National Puerto Rican Day Parade embraces.
The National Puerto Rican Day Parade also took place on June 9, but earlier in the day. Many of our local elected officials appeared in both parades. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, NYC Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, U.S. Representative Nydia Velásquez, NYS Assembly Member Maritza Davila, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez , NYS Senator Julia Salazar, and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso were all smiles when they walked Bushwick’s parade route.
“It was great to join the Bushwick community and local leaders in celebrating our Boricua culture and its impact on NYC at the Knickerbocker Avenue Puerto Rican Day parade,” said U.S. Representative Nydia Velásquez.
There has been a tradition since the 1970s of Knickerbocker Avenue being a post Puerto Rican Day Parade celebration site for locals. Throughout the years, many didn’t even go to the parade in Manhattan choosing to celebrate their community in the community.
Tito Puente Jr. served as grand marshall of the Knickerbocker parade, “Thank you y gracias a mis fans y la communidad de bushwick, Brooklyn! I had a blast being the grand marshal!” Earlier in the day he made an appearance in the Manhattan parade on the Goya float.
“This year’s theme was ‘Empowering Our Youth’ and we marched proudly to show that our community is still here and remains vibrant in Bushwick!” said NYS Assembly Member Maritza Davila.
The Greenline 