Hundreds of thousands of people packed the streets of Brooklyn on Monday for the annual West Indian Day Parade, one of the city’s most colorful celebrations of Caribbean heritage. This year’s event unfolded under heightened security, a response to last year’s deadly shooting.
New York City brought the energy to Eastern Parkway for the West Indian American Day Parade!
This is one of our city’s greatest and most vibrant traditions, and there is no better way to celebrate Caribbean pride than with the Caribbean-American members of the NYPD.
Thank you… pic.twitter.com/9mBQh35ezZ
— Jessica S. Tisch (@NYPDPC) September 1, 2025
Mayoral Candidates Join the Parade
With the November general election drawing near, political figures made their presence felt. Mayor Eric Adams, Democrat Zohran Mamdani, GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa, and independent candidate Andrew Cuomo all walked the two-mile parade route, greeting crowds and seeking voter support.
Largest NYPD Deployment of the Year
Today’s West Indian Day Parade was filled with music, dance, food, and tradition.
We were proud to march in celebration of West Indian culture and keep watch to ensure that everyone could have a safe experience. pic.twitter.com/wNjflgvbwa
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) September 1, 2025
The parade route stretched from Utica Avenue near Lincoln Terrace Park to the Brooklyn Museum, with strict safety measures in place. Attendees passed through 13 security checkpoints and were screened with handheld metal detectors.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that this was the largest police deployment of the year, surpassing even New Year’s Eve in Times Square and the Fourth of July fireworks. The security setup included thousands of officers on foot, rooftop observers, helicopters, and drones.
“This is the biggest deployment of officers we’ve had this year,” Tisch said.
Barricades created a protective “moat” between marchers and spectators along Eastern Parkway, ensuring better crowd control. Tisch also reminded that the suspect in last year’s shooting remains at large, reinforcing the need for tight security.
J’Ouvert Brings Vibrant Early Morning Festivities
Before the parade, celebrations kicked off with J’Ouvert, a pre-dawn street party rooted in Caribbean emancipation traditions. Thousands joined in Crown Heights, dancing and covering themselves in colorful powder, paint, and oil.
While J’Ouvert has a history of violence—including the 2015 shooting death of Cuomo aide Carey Gabay—it has now been violence-free for three consecutive years, marking a hopeful change for the beloved tradition.
