NYC's massive West Indian Day Parade sweeps through Brooklyn

ByJONATHAN LEMIRE AP logo
Monday, September 7, 2015
West Indian Day Parade celebrates Caribbean culture and life
Tim Fleischer has more from Crown Heights.

NEW YORK -- New York City's massive West Indian Day Parade kicked off in Brooklyn.

The colorful, raucous parade marches along Eastern Parkway every Labor Day.

The lively event celebrates Caribbean culture. It features outlandish costumes, indigenous foods, loud music and scores of dancers.

Check out the festivities in this video:

The hours before the parade were marred by violence. One man was stabbed to death and others were wounded by gunfire, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo's first deputy counsel.

The annual parade is a significant political moment. Elected officials from across the city attended a pre-parade breakfast before marching.

Monday's festivities are expected to be the first time since July that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio attend the same public event. The two Democrats have been engaged in a months-long feud.