PR Parade 2017 Marches On Without Corporate Sponsors

recap of #prparade

there was a lot of controversy surrounding the Puerto Rican Day parade this year.  no one seemed to agree on any point.  everyone was polarized.  including me.  no one was gonna convince me against what i stood for!  i was standing my ground!  

the controversy surrounded a political prisoner Oscar Lopez Rivera.  a political prisoner of war who was just released.  Some call him a terrorist and as such should not be allowed to march.  and others calling him our mandela.

here is my recap of the #PRparade2017.

i was shocked. dismayed. distressed.  

i go to the parade every year.  so i speak from experience.  the crowds were thin.  even on the subway.  as we're walking ...

from the train it was eerily quiet.  i thought must be my imagination.

we get to the parade take our spots.  and the 1st float we see is #oscarlopezrivera.  i couldnt believe my EYES!  i teared up.  he gives me hope!  of a FREE PR!  liberacion!  i wave. i screamed. i cry.  im filled with so much emotion.

and the next group of marchers and the next and the next... were all the same.  they were all waving black colored Puerto Rican flags.  i thought it was all for OSCAR.  but the next again.  so i started paying attention.  and no each set of marchers were their own identity.  unions, and groups and just organized people, the tainos, fraternities, towns representing themselves.  and then i noticed.  wait- there's no loud music.

there are few speakers on the few floats.  wait.  there are NOOOOO advertisers on any float. NOT ONE! 

 this whole parade became a parade of THE PEOPLE.  they marched.  they walked.  they wore black.  they carried hand made signs.  they played their own instruments.  the parade became of the PEOPLE!  i grew up with sponsorships in my face!  goya, and at&t and all the radio stations.  all shouting out "buy me! buy ME!  spend more money on me!!!"  

SHOOT! i live in NYC were advertisements are shoved down your throat!  taking a bus or train, waiting on line in the drug store, its in your mailbox, billboards, radio, tv, facebook!  everywhere!!!!  its the american way!  to get a message across. 

but this year... the message was:  look at our beautiful culture!  look our beautiful people!  this one guy said on his mic from a float:  "our float has the most beautiful women in the whole parade! "  i shouted back: the most beautiful is ME!  he kept on, "look at them and you'll agree son las mas bellas!"  i obeyed and looked and truly.  gorgeous women.  fully cloathed.  gorgeous outfits.  all made up!  smiling and waving!  

i looked around.  not one flag with the coqui on it.  nope.  none of that.   no blaring hip hop and reggaeton.  no skin tight clothes.  people were wearing tshirts with messages:  no al colonia.  defiende puerto rico.  etc.  

i looked around.  not one flag with the coqui on it.  nope.  none of that.   no blaring hip hop and reggaeton.  no skin tight clothes.  people were wearing tshirts with messages:  no al colonia.  defiende puerto rico.  etc.  

so much is going on!  as an american i believe in capitalism.  but THIS, the people!  this is FREEDOM! to be able to express yourself without fear.  to march without being branded. without being a paid sponsor.  to dance in the street!  to express yourself!  to gather and assemble! 

now we all can agree on THAT!  right mi gente?