Public Employee Press

Activists join African American Parade

With two floats and a contingent of union members and retirees, District Council 37 joined politicians, marching bands, dance troupes and paradegoers on Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard on Sunday, Sept. 15, in Harlem at the 44th annual African American Day Parade.

"We had great participation with more than 300 DC 37 members and retirees adding their voices to the day's celebration," said Local 1113 President Deborah Pitts, who chairs the Black History Committee. She helped coordinate the union's participation, providing T-shirts, box lunches and giveaways to DC 37 volunteers and members.

DC 37 sponsored a live DJ and two floats as part of the celebration of African American culture, black pride and Harlem's rich history. Under blue skies, New Yorkers came out for justice for Trayvon Martin, civil rights and voting rights, which a recent Supreme Court ruling and moneyed conservative movements threaten.

New York state lawmakers and City Council members marched with U.S. war veterans, Firefighters, lodge members, drill teams, bands, and drum lines from across the country. They kept the atmosphere lighthearted and lively as they strutted, bounced and shimmied to sounds of pop hits, hip-hop and soul classics.

The DC 37 Black History Committee, the union's Retirees Association and Locals 299, 371, 375, 420, 768, 1113, 1359, 1549, and staffers marched with banners celebrating union pride before the international crowd. Harlem's African American Day Parade founder Abraham Snyder is a DC 37 retiree who has organized the parade since 1969, with help from Arlene Tuff and other DC 37 retirees and volunteers.

This year's parade grand marshals included U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, the city's first African American mayor, David Dinkins, the Rev. Al Sharpton and Dr. Adelaide Sanford. Mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio, former City Comptroller Bill Thompson, Public Advocate candidate Letitia James and others greeted the thousands of spectators who danced and cheered at the largest parade celebrating African American culture in the nation.