Today is Sunday, June 2, 2024. This is the beginning of Pride Month activities, and in honor of this event, Elliot and I decided to attend the Jackson Heights Pride march today starting at 12, on 37th Avenue. The weather was gorgeous: sunny, clear, and seasonably warm. We took the subway to get there, since driving was very impractical. We just took the E to Roosevelt Avenue and walked to the viewing area. The side streets were filled with merchants selling their wares. We walked to 37th Avenue and found a corner to stand and watch the festivities. As I could ascertain, the only political stance taken by anyone at the parade were the pro-Palestinian protesters standing across the street holding up handmade signs denouncing the war in Gaza.

In conjunction with this first LGBTQ+ parade here in Queens, there was another, more somber parade going on in Manhattan to mark the NYC Israel Day parade up Fifth Avenue. This annual event consisted of, according to one article, 60,000 participants who marched up the parade route. Spectators holding Israeli flags ran five rows deep along one side of Fifth Avenue. The other side, closed to the public, was lined with fences bearing photos of hostages who were abducted from southern Israel by terrorists on October 7 and taken to Gaza, where they are still being held.

Overall, the march was somber and peaceful, but there was a counterprotest, led by fellow Jews upset about Israel’s continued offensive in Gaza. Police kept them away from the parade itself as some onlookers booed at the demonstrators.

Meanwhile, Israel’s defense minister said the country is looking into an alternative governing body for Gaza to replace Hamas.

This comes as the United States continues to press Israel on the three-phase ceasefire proposed outlined by President Joe Biden. On Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a permanent ceasefire a “nonstarter” unless Hamas is dismantled.

So, there were two dueling parades happening in our fair city on this beautiful day. We were able to attend only one – the one occurring in Queens. From what I’ve heard, no violent incidents transpired during both. That is definitely a good thing.

Have a good week.

Stay safe and be well.

Here are some pictures from today’s march up 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights.