Puerto Rican Pride Shines In Newark For Hispanic Heritage Month

NEWARK, NJ — There has been no shortage of Puerto Rican pride in New Jersey’s largest city for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Recently, Newark has seen events that include a flag-raising ceremony, an anti-bullying march that ended on the steps of City Hall and a back-to-school tribute to Puerto Rican-born baseball legend, Roberto Clemente.

Meanwhile, one of the largest celebrations of Puerto Rican culture in North Jersey – the Newark Puerto Rican Day Parade – will return for another year on Sunday, Sept. 18 (learn more below).

FLAG RAISING

Community members and Newark officials held a Puerto Rican flag raising ceremony on Monday at City Hall on Broad Street.

The festive event included music and speeches – several of them rendered in Spanish. Watch a video of the flag-raising ceremony below, via the Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc.

ANTI-BULLYING MARCH

On Wednesday, hundreds of students, resident and community leaders gathered for an “anti-bullying march” that wrapped up at City Hall.

Watch videos of the march here and here. More footage can also be seen here and here.

BACK TO SCHOOL, ROBERTO CLEMENTE

Another celebration of Puerto Rican culture took place on Wednesday during a “Welcome Back to School Giveaway and Resource Event” at Roberto Clemente Elementary School on Summer Avenue.

At the giveaway, city workers, Amerigroup and the United Community Corporation (UCC) gave out bags of school supplies to local youth, with the UCC also distributing groceries to families in attendance. There were also games, a balloonist, a food truck, face painting and a DJ.

According to a news release from city officials:

“This year’s event is being held at Roberto Clemente Elementary School, to honor the legendary Puerto Rican baseball pioneer and humanitarian on the 50th anniversary of his final season in the major leagues. Mr. Clemente is being honored as part of the observances for Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place in September.”

“This Friday we are following Roberto Clemente’s legacy of love and giving in our community,” Deputy Mayor of Community Engagement Jacqueline Quiles enthused. “As Roberto said, ‘Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on Earth.’”

PARADE, FESTIVAL

The 2022 Newark Puerto Rican Day Parade will take place at noon on Sunday, Sept. 18. Now in its 61st year, the parade takes place Broadway/Avenida Puerto Rico to Lake Street along Bloomfield Avenue in Newark in honor of the millions of inhabitants of Puerto Rico and more than five million people living in the United States.

The parade will be followed by the Boricua Music Festival. Learn more here.

Puerto Rican Day Parade Inc., the nonprofit that organizes the event, has been sharing information about some of this year’s honorees on social media, including the parade’s grand marshal, Luis Quintana, a Newark City Council member.

Quintana was the first Hispanic person to be elected to the position of councilman-at-large in Newark, as well as the first Hispanic to become mayor.

• See related article: Newark Puerto Rican Day Parade, Music Fest Will Return For 2022

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