2021 Puerto Rican Day Parade Goes On with NYC Mayor de Blasio, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Quiara Alegría Hudes, US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona

Story and videography by Luis Diaz

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio joined Lin-Manuel Miranda, Quiara Alegría Hudes, Miguel Cardona and many others in a procession down Fifth Avenue on Sunday, June 12, 2021 in a celebration of Puerto Rican Pride.

The official cancellation of the 64th Annual NYC Puerto Rican Day Parade didn’t stop our Mayor from marching down Fifth Avenue alongside playwrights Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes as well as US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and many others.

The celebratory march filled with singing and dancing began at 110th Street and Fifth avenue and stopped near the front of El Museo del Barrio. There speeches were given by Mayor de Blasio, Mr. Miranda, Mrs. Hudes and Mr. Cardona.

Since the pandemic began in New York City and beyond, little to no such celebrations were allowed to take place in our city.

Below, one can find videos featuring speeches given as well as the marching down Fifth avenue. Below that is a transcript of Mayor de Blasio’s speech.

Transcript of Mayor de Blasio’s remarks:

Mayor Bill de Blasio: “Thank you, Luis. Thank you for your leadership. Give Luis a big round of applause. 

Everybody, when we celebrate this time, it’s a small, little, intimate celebration – but next time is going to be a big, joyous celebration. All of us together again.

We feel a lot of spirit right now because we feel our city coming back. We feel New York City getting strong again, and we know this is going to be the summer of New York City.

And one of the most powerful ways that we marked the summer of New York City, and the rebirth of New York City is with the emergence of one of the greatest films you have seen in a long, long time – In The Heights.

If you love Washington Heights, go to this movie. If you love the Puerto Rican people and the Dominican people and all the people who make New York City great, go to this movie. If you love New York City, go to In the Heights. 

So, tremendous appreciation to Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes for creating something remarkable. One of the greatest portrayals of New York City ever. Let’s thank them for what they have done.

And a special thank you to someone who has contributed to this city over and over again for decades. And he has made sure that the culture of the Puerto Rican people, and the political importance of the Puerto Rican people is honored. Luis Miranda, thank you.

Special thank you to my friend, former Speaker of the City Council, Melissa Mark-Viverito.

I want to say a special thank you to the men and women at the NYPD who are here.

There’s a new salsero there. Dermot Shea was practicing his moves. Very good. See it’s infectious. It’s infectious, everyone. 

Now, listen, this is the center of Puerto Rican culture. This is the place – except for Puerto Rico itself, there are no places – no place in the world with more Puerto Ricans than New York City. 

And when we celebrate Puerto Rico, this is the place to do it. And we celebrate the strength of the Puerto Rican people. After Hurricane Maria, after the earthquakes, financial crisis, health care crisis, the United States of America has not done everything that should do for Puerto Rico. There’s so much more we have to do, right? We have to stand up for Puerto Rico. But one thing that’s beautiful is the Puerto Rican people always stand up for each other and are there for each other. And after Hurricane Maria, New York City knew our mission was to send people to Puerto Rico to help Puerto Rico. Our mission was to stand shoulder to shoulder, and we will always stand shoulder to shoulder with Puerto Rico. Everybody, there’s no stopping Puerto Rico. There’s no stopping New York City. We are all in this together. Que viva Puerto Rico.

Wait, I have one special, special role here, which is to introduce a great Puerto Rican, a man who epitomizes the diaspora and the greatness of Puerto Rican contributions to this country. He is now responsible for ensuring the quality of education of every child in the United States of America – think about that awesome responsibility, and President Biden chose the right person, our Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona.”