By — Omar Etman Omar Etman Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/brooklyn-celebration-hyphen Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Muslim veterans lead NYC parade of immigrants celebrating their ‘hyphen’ Nation Aug 7, 2016 6:17 PM EDT New Yorkers from more than 80 countries marched through downtown Brooklyn in solidarity with Muslim-American veterans on Sunday in a show of unity many participants aimed to counter recent waves of Islamophobic and anti-immigrant sentiment spurred by GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump. The celebration of the third annual International Day of Friendship was part of Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams’ “Embrace Your Hyphen” campaign, which encourages residents to celebrate all aspects of their identity. The event came the week after Trump drew criticism for his comments to the parents of a Muslim army captain killed in Iraq in 2004. “We must out-Trump Trump,” Adams said, to big cheers. The flag of Libya appears in the row of 195 flags represented at the 3rd annual International Day of Friendship celebration in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug. 7, 2016. Photo by Omar Etman/PBS NewsHour Weekend In introducing three Muslim-American veterans, Adams said: “This is not the land of cowards. We do not turn against each other. We embrace each other. And we do not allow people to use religion to harm those who righteously worship in peace.” Krystal Guzman and her grandmother Angela Filomena represent Puerto Rico at the 3rd annual International Day of Friendship celebration in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug. 7, 2016. Photo by Omar Etman/PBS NewsHour Weekend During the march, Jessica Filomeno, 38, representing Puerto Rico, held the flag of Norway. “That’s what I love about this parade: you can represent anybody,” she said. Filomeno’s mother and daughter, who was wearing a traditional Puerto Rican dress, had also joined in the festivities. Filomena has attended the International Day of Friendship each year. In 2014, the parade traveled only a few blocks, and not as many countries were represented, she said. This year, the flags of 195 countries were on display. Boys do the moko jumbie, a stilt walking dance native to Trinidad and Tobago, at the 3rd annual International Day of Friendship celebration in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug. 7, 2016. Photo by Omar Etman/PBS NewsHour Weekend Felina Backer, a volunteer from Haiti who also sang the national anthem, said she was happy to see immigrants loudly celebrating their hyphenated identities. “People are here saying, ‘I’m an immigrant and I matter.'” she said. Byambakhuu Darinchuluun, left, and people representing Mongolia enjoyed the festivities. Photo by Omar Etman/NewsHour Weekend Byambakhuu Darinchuluun, representing Mongolia alongside 25 others from the Mongol Heritage Foundation, appeared to revel in the celebratory air. When asked about anti-immigrant comments made by Trump, he shrugged it off, gesturing to the diverse crowd around him. See more photos from the parade below. Representing Haiti, Felina Backer looks on to the crowd at the 3rd annual International Day of Friendship celebration in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug. 7, 2016. Photo by Omar Etman/PBS NewsHour Weekend Borough President Eric L. Adams, right, introduces three Muslim-American veterans to the crowd at the 3rd annual International Day of Friendship celebration in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug. 7, 2016. Photo by Omar Etman/PBS NewsHour Weekend A woman dances underneath the flag of Egypt during the 3rd annual International Day of Friendship celebration in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug. 7, 2016. Photo by Omar Etman/PBS NewsHour Weekend A woman looks on with the flag of Guyana tucked into her hair at the 3rd annual International Day of Friendship celebration in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug. 7, 2016. Photo by Omar Etman/PBS NewsHour Weekend The Chinese delegation flies a dragon at the start of the parade at the 3rd annual International Day of Friendship celebration in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug. 7, 2016. Photo by Omar Etman/PBS NewsHour Weekend Marchers during the 3rd annual International Day of Friendship celebration in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug. 7, 2016. Photo by Omar Etman/PBS NewsHour Weekend We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Omar Etman Omar Etman Omar Etman is an intern at PBS NewsHour Weekend.
New Yorkers from more than 80 countries marched through downtown Brooklyn in solidarity with Muslim-American veterans on Sunday in a show of unity many participants aimed to counter recent waves of Islamophobic and anti-immigrant sentiment spurred by GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump. The celebration of the third annual International Day of Friendship was part of Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams’ “Embrace Your Hyphen” campaign, which encourages residents to celebrate all aspects of their identity. The event came the week after Trump drew criticism for his comments to the parents of a Muslim army captain killed in Iraq in 2004. “We must out-Trump Trump,” Adams said, to big cheers. The flag of Libya appears in the row of 195 flags represented at the 3rd annual International Day of Friendship celebration in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug. 7, 2016. Photo by Omar Etman/PBS NewsHour Weekend In introducing three Muslim-American veterans, Adams said: “This is not the land of cowards. We do not turn against each other. We embrace each other. And we do not allow people to use religion to harm those who righteously worship in peace.” Krystal Guzman and her grandmother Angela Filomena represent Puerto Rico at the 3rd annual International Day of Friendship celebration in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug. 7, 2016. Photo by Omar Etman/PBS NewsHour Weekend During the march, Jessica Filomeno, 38, representing Puerto Rico, held the flag of Norway. “That’s what I love about this parade: you can represent anybody,” she said. Filomeno’s mother and daughter, who was wearing a traditional Puerto Rican dress, had also joined in the festivities. Filomena has attended the International Day of Friendship each year. In 2014, the parade traveled only a few blocks, and not as many countries were represented, she said. This year, the flags of 195 countries were on display. Boys do the moko jumbie, a stilt walking dance native to Trinidad and Tobago, at the 3rd annual International Day of Friendship celebration in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug. 7, 2016. Photo by Omar Etman/PBS NewsHour Weekend Felina Backer, a volunteer from Haiti who also sang the national anthem, said she was happy to see immigrants loudly celebrating their hyphenated identities. “People are here saying, ‘I’m an immigrant and I matter.'” she said. Byambakhuu Darinchuluun, left, and people representing Mongolia enjoyed the festivities. Photo by Omar Etman/NewsHour Weekend Byambakhuu Darinchuluun, representing Mongolia alongside 25 others from the Mongol Heritage Foundation, appeared to revel in the celebratory air. When asked about anti-immigrant comments made by Trump, he shrugged it off, gesturing to the diverse crowd around him. See more photos from the parade below. Representing Haiti, Felina Backer looks on to the crowd at the 3rd annual International Day of Friendship celebration in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug. 7, 2016. Photo by Omar Etman/PBS NewsHour Weekend Borough President Eric L. Adams, right, introduces three Muslim-American veterans to the crowd at the 3rd annual International Day of Friendship celebration in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug. 7, 2016. Photo by Omar Etman/PBS NewsHour Weekend A woman dances underneath the flag of Egypt during the 3rd annual International Day of Friendship celebration in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug. 7, 2016. Photo by Omar Etman/PBS NewsHour Weekend A woman looks on with the flag of Guyana tucked into her hair at the 3rd annual International Day of Friendship celebration in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug. 7, 2016. Photo by Omar Etman/PBS NewsHour Weekend The Chinese delegation flies a dragon at the start of the parade at the 3rd annual International Day of Friendship celebration in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug. 7, 2016. Photo by Omar Etman/PBS NewsHour Weekend Marchers during the 3rd annual International Day of Friendship celebration in Brooklyn, NY, on Aug. 7, 2016. Photo by Omar Etman/PBS NewsHour Weekend We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now