Public Employee Press

DC 37 in African American Day Parade
Peace and positivity

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

In a show of African American pride and positivity, District Council 37 joined New York politicians and dozens of bands, high-stepping drill teams and a squad of unicyclists Sept. 18 in Harlem at the 42nd annual African American Day Parade.

DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts marched as grand marshals' including U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, former Gov. David Paterson, former Mayor David Dinkins, former city Comptroller Bill Thompson, the Rev. Al Sharpton and Dr. Adelaide Sanford, as well as City Comptroller John Liu and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, spread a message of unity and nonviolence to communities citywide.

In a spectacle that energized and entertained young and old, an international crowd from Harlem USA to Haarlem in Holland lined the sidewalks and cheered as Black sororities and fraternities, war veterans, Firefighters, lodge members, community and school bands bounced, danced and strutted up the parade route along Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard from 111th Street to 135th.

The African American Day Parade began in 1968. Chair Abraham Snyder, a DC 37 retiree and one of the founders who organized the event with DC 37 volunteers and retirees on the planning committee, has grown the event into one of the largest African American cultural celebrations today.

The Black History Committee, chaired by Local 1113 President Deborah Pitts, organized DC 37's participation and sponsored two floats. DC 37 Locals 299, 371, 420, 1113, 1549, and the Retirees Association marched to remind parade watchers that DC 37 members make New York City run.