Thousands turn Brooklyn black, green and gold at first Jamaica Rising Day Parade
Elected officials, diplomats and dancehall singer Nadine Sutherland joined the inaugural parade, which was rerouted along Ocean Avenue because of the size of the crowd.
NEW YORK, United States. Thousands gathered at the intersection of Church and Ocean Avenues in Brooklyn on 8 August for the inaugural Jamaica Rising Day Parade, celebrating Jamaica’s culture, resilience and unity in the colours of the national flag.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony opened the event, attended by founder and chair Dr Bill Tinglin, executive director of marketing Mickael Marabou, Dr Lawman Lynch, Ariel Bowen, former US Ambassador to Jamaica Nick Perry, New York City Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels and honorary grand marshal Nadine Sutherland, the Jamaican singer.
The procession made its way north along Ocean Avenue. It had been scheduled to travel along Church Avenue, also known as Bob Marley Boulevard, but was rerouted because of the anticipated size of the crowd.
Officials join in
“We are showing that the best rebellion is joy, and celebration,” said New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, an honorary grand marshal. “Being here among all of these Jamaican flags, showing what it meant to be Jamaican, is a historic moment here in Brooklyn.”
Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman, of Jamaican and Bajan heritage, noted that this was the first such parade since the major hurricane that devastated Jamaica in 2025. “There are a lot of mixed emotions here today,” she said.
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, a Haitian-American and honorary grand marshal, said the parade was “long overdue”. “We are one Caribbean and we will support each other,” she said, also paying tribute to Boukman, who she said moved from Jamaica to Haiti and helped Haiti win its independence.
Council Member Mercedes Narcisse said: “I am a proud Jamaican today.”
Music on the streets
Live music and DJs entertained the crowd, with revellers singing along to “I am Blessed”, the song made famous by Jamaican artist Mr Vegas.
“If you were born to Jamaican parents in Brooklyn, New York, you are still Jamaican,” one DJ told the multi-generational crowd, which made its way along Ocean Avenue towards Lincoln Road, where the parade ended.
