West Indian Labor Day Parade Marks 58th Year With Culture, Color, and Political Presence

By Lyndon Taylor
The 58th staging of the annual West Indian Labor Day Parade transformed Eastern Parkway into a sea of color, music, and culture on Labor Day, as more than 2.5 million revelers came out to celebrate Caribbean heritage.

The festivities began earlier in the day with an invitation-only breakfast, which brought together a wide cross-section of leaders — among them Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, members of Congress, mayoral hopefuls, state and city officials, business leaders, nonprofit organizations, labor unions, clergy, and representatives of civil society.

In her remarks, Governor Hochul struck a balance between celebration and resolve. Acknowledging the anxiety surrounding the new federal Administration, she told attendees:
“Today we’re here to celebrate, tomorrow get back up and fight like hell saying they’re not going to separate our families and children.”

The Governor reaffirmed her commitment to the Caribbean-American community, pledging to honor and expand its contributions to New York. “We’re going to continue to embrace the incredible culture, the customs and the cuisine of the Caribbean,” she said. “We’ll continue focusing on trade relationships, sending more teams from Empire State Development to the islands to help give them a catalyst in dollars and resources to be successful.”

NYS Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, a longtime supporter of the parade, underscored its significance in an interview with Our Time Press: “The West Indian Labor Day Parade is significant as New York City is home to one of the largest concentrations of Caribbean Americans in the country and such a dynamic part of NYC, contributing to the arts and culture, entrepreneurship, and the business community.”

For DiNapoli, the annual event is also symbolic. “It’s a moment to say goodbye to the Summer and hello to the Fall,” he added.

This year’s parade carried an added layer of political energy, with 2025 being an election year. Alongside Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams, the parade and breakfast drew a host of elected officials and candidates, including Mayoral contender Zoran Mandani, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, and Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke.

WIADCA President Roger Archibald welcomed the heightened interest, noting:
“The growing presence of elected officials is indicative of the value that Caribbean-Americans bring to the table. They value our support.”

By mid-morning, Eastern Parkway was alive with masqueraders in elaborate costumes, steelpan and soca bands, and revelers representing islands across the Caribbean. The annual tradition — equal parts cultural showcase and political stage — once again affirmed its place as one of New York City’s most vibrant celebrations, uniting community pride with calls for resilience and recognition.

All photos by Nathaniel Adams