Salsa music drowned out St. Patrick’s church bells and glitter and sequins outshined Tiffany diamonds on Sunday, Jue 8. It was New York City’s 57th Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade, where more than two million people gathered on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue to enjoy the dazzling spectacle and show of Borinquen pride. This year’s parade theme was “One Nation, Many Voices,” and focused on Puerto Rican arts, culture and education. The event is a staple cultural event in New York City and over the years has grown into one of the largest ethnic celebrations in the country. The joyful rainbow stretched several miles down the spine of Manhattan, with brilliantly decorated floats, scores of dancers and bands, and hundreds of contingents. Several hundred 1199SEIU caregivers marched, wearing scrubs emblazoned with “Cuidamos A Nueva York” (“We Care for New York”). Among them were some 50 members of the Union’s Maryland/DC region who made the trip to march side-by-side with their New York sisters and brothers. “This is my first time up here and it’s my first time participating in the Puerto Rican Day Parade,” said Renee Neal, an oxygen tech from Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore. “I came because our New York members came down to help us while we’re struggling for our contract, so I wanted to come up and show my support for them. I want to show that we are many voices. We won’t do anything with just one voice, but we can do everything together – as many voices.” Gloria Collet, a painter at the Augustana Lutheran Home in Brooklyn, helped carry 1199SEIU’s banner at the front of the contingent. “I’m really proud because this is my first time in the Parade and I’m representing all of us,” said Collet as she held up her end of the colorful banner and waited to march. “I want people to know that 1199 is here to stay. We take care of the people in our neighborhoods every day--all of our citizens. I’ve lived in Brooklyn for 40 years and I wanted to work in healthcare and be 1199. And now here I am.” Union President George Gresham and Secretary Treasurer Maria Castaneda led the 1199 contingent; walking with members who carried banners reminding New Yorkers that 1199SEIU is a diverse union of caregivers. Along the route, parade goers shouted and cheered, identifying themselves as 1199ers as the Union’s familiar purple van passed. Gresham said Parade Day is a special day of unity for 1199SEIU and all of New York City. “We say that we’re one Union, no matter what. No matter where we come from or where we live,” said Gresham. “Our Baltimore folks are here to show solidarity with our New York members and we are all here to celebrate Puerto Rican heritage. Our union has a significant number of members of Puerto Rican heritage and this is a proud day for all of us to celebrate.”
NYC/Long Island
