New York City celebrated the 62nd Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sunday, June 5, and once again Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue morphed into a glittering, mile-long spectacle of Borinquen pride.

The 300-member 1199 contingent was the largest among the scores of civic organizations, unions, schools, and businesses that were represented in the procession. 1199ers, a swath of purple (and red, white and blue) pride glided along, joining hundreds of dancers, musicians, and floats that delighted hundreds of thousands of proud onlookers. The parade is the country’s largest celebration of ethnic heritage, and once again 1199SEIU’s Unidos Por Puerto Rico (United for Puerto Rico)-themed contingent stood for justice and assistance for the island, which is still recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria.

“We are all brothers and sisters here, and we are all united in this fight,” said Daniel Leon, a building services worker at Northwell Health in Manhattan.

The Brooklyn United Marching Band, a perennial favorite among parade-goers and 1199ers, headed up the Union’s contingent, which included a fiery salsa band, the 1199 Latinos Unidos Dancers, vintage cars, and, of course, hundreds of proud, united 1199SEIU members.

Al Jimenez, a Con Edison worker and long-time union supporter, brought his family to march with the 1199 group.

“My godfather was an 1199 member and I always bring my kids [to march with the Union] because I want them to know what unions are all about and why it’s important for them to stand up for what they believe in.”

- 1199 Magazine | July / August 2019