Mexican Independence Day Parade Celebrated On Staten Island Sunday – Anniversary Of Beginning Of Mexican War Of Independence Against Spanish Empire
La Colmena Mexican Independence Day Parade Celebrated On Staten Island This Past Sunday
At the Mexican Independence Day Parade. Image Credit – La Colmena
From the organization:
With the last days of summer counting down, Sunday La Colmena hosted its fifth parade celebrating Mexico’s independence with plenty of sun. This year, the parade stepped off from La Colmena, and participants marched north on Port Richmond Ave to Veterans Park. – “El Grito,” the battle cry of the Mexican War of Independence from Spain, first uttered by Priest Miguel Hidalgo on September 16, 1810.
“This marked the fifth Mexican Independence Day Parade on Staten Island, and we thank everyone that was part of it. Together, we are making history and can’t wait to see the growth of it each year,” said Yesenia Mata, Executive Director of La Colmena. “Seeing how little children scream ‘Viva Mexico’ and are so happy, so proud, this something that will always stay with them because you can never bring down someone who feels proud of their community. And this is what we’re trying to do, to ensure that children grow up with that pride.”
Colorful displays of green, red, and white Mexican flags could be seen painting each block as Staten Islanders waved small and large flags on the sidewalks and windows. Performers danced to music that lifted the spirits of everyone, and street vendors solid delicious traditional Mexican delicacies & artisans.
Commissioner for the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, Manual Castro, Assemblymember for District 51, Marcela Mitaynes, and State Senator for District 23, Jessica Spanton, joined the parade and marched proudly to support the Mexican Community of Staten Island.
The Mexican Independence Day Parade is not just a celebration of cultural heritage; it’s a valuable event for the businesses along the Port Richmond corridor. The parade draws significant foot traffic to the area, helping local businesses thrive, and fostering a sense of community. As the parade goes through the middle of the Port Richmond corridor, it’s a lively reminder of the area’s rich cultural tapestry and how important these businesses are to the community’s identity. It’s a celebration of the diversity and unity that make this neighborhood so special.
We thank our sponsors, such as our ¡Viva Mexico! sponsor, Hispanic Federation, and our Hidalgo sponsors, MetroPlusHealth and CUNY Mexican Studies Institute, and our Morelos, Guerrero, and Juárez sponsors, who helped make this parade a success.
About La Colmena
La Colmena is a community-based organization that empowers immigrant workers and their families through education, organizing, culture, and direct services. Over the past decade, La Colmena has become a vital resource for the immigrant community on Staten Island, advocating for workers’ rights and providing essential services.
From their Facebook page:
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“The Mexican Independence Day parade returned to Staten Island this weekend for the fifth consecutive year, where hundreds of residents took to the streets to engage in folkloric dances, sing along to Mariachi songs, and enjoy delicious food.
“Participants wreathed in rebozos and colorful patterned Quechquemitl– traditional Mexican and indigenous attires — waved flags and walked the mile long stretch of the commercial corridor in Port Richmond towards Veterans Park, where businesses set up activities for children and families and street vendors sold tacos, flautas, churros and other delicacies to bring a slice of Mexico to the community.
“The parade on September 15 celebrates the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence against the Spanish Empire, while providing the growing Hispanic community in the area an opportunity to embrace the heritage and their culture.”
The following images were provided by La Colmena of the Mexican Independence Day event:
Staten Islander News Service Staff Writer
This byline indicates that this article was penned by a member/members of the Staten Islander News Organization office team. Our staff writers are the backbone of our newspaper, performing all sorts of important tasks like conducting interviews, investigating leads, besides writing the news stories you see.
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