New York.- Dominicans celebrate this Friday a milestone with the first lighting of 16 iconic New York buildings with the colors of its flag to celebrate the Independence Day of the Dominican Republic, an act called to recognize the presence and contribution of this community in the Big Apple.
Quisqueyans celebrate today the 182nd anniversary of its independence from New York, the city that houses its largest population in the diaspora and where they have stood out for their contributions to the economy as owners of various businesses, educators, scientists, politicians, or in the service sector.
According to the consulate, around a million live in this city where they have been present since 1613, when the merchant Juan Rodríguez, who was born in the Dominican Republic, became the first non-indigenous inhabitant of what is now Manhattan, and which later, between 1960 and 1990, was the destination of the largest emigration from that country.
“Long live the Dominican Republic! Long live Juan Pablo Duarte!” a group shouted enthusiastically, while excitedly waving their white, red and blue national emblem during an event in which a wreath was laid in the park named after Juan Pablo Duarte (1813-1876). Duarte, who devised and led several organizations to fight for independence, along with Francisco del Rosario Sánchez and Matías Ramón Mella, is one of the fathers of the country.
The consul, Jesús Vázquez, who was accompanied by representatives of the National Police of the Dominican Republic and Dominican police in New York, highlighted there that the “identity and unwavering commitment to the Dominican Republic, Duarte’s ideology,” calls upon Dominicans “to live freedom with responsibility, to defend justice and national unity.”
“We reaffirm that Dominicanness remains alive in every act of service, every gesture of solidarity and in every achievement of our people. We celebrate not only a historical date, but the strength of a community that works, undertakes and progresses without forgetting its roots,” he stated.
The consul highlighted among the achievements that 5,000 Dominicans are members of the city police and five are heads of departments, without forgetting the progress of the community in other states, where they have been elected as mayors and legislators. For his part, federal representative Adriano Espaillat, the first Dominican elected to the US Congress and president of the Black and Hispanic Caucus, noted with pleasure that Dominicans have also arrived at NASA.
A walk through Upper Manhattan, the main Dominican neighborhood
A walk through Upper Manhattan, the Dominican neighborhood par excellence, shows in its streets a vibrant community, hard-working and easy to smile even at strangers. Restaurants, wineries, beauty salons, money transfer businesses, pastry shops and jewelry stores are some of the businesses established along its streets, which for years have also welcomed other Latin neighbors and businesses, including Mexicans, Ecuadorians and Salvadorans.
The meringue that comes out of the businesses or the sales tables on the sidewalks accompanies each step, where the visitor or resident finds various consumer products, beauty products, clothing or cosmetics. The meringues of the famous Dominican singer Fernando Villalona could be heard in the restaurant where Yazmin works celebrating the national holiday.
The worker, who emigrated from Bonao nine years ago but travels frequently to her country, told EFE that she was “very happy” about the independence. On the contrary, José Manuel, who sold pork and cassava cracklings at a mobile stand on a corner of Juan Pablo Duarte Boulevard in Upper Manhattan, and his friend José, assured EFE that they had no reason to celebrate.
According to José, all the governments that have been in power in his country have not defended the ideals of the liberators. “They have been the same as those who were removed from power” when freedom was proclaimed, he stated.
The celebration of independence concludes with the lighting of buildings such as the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station and iconic landscapes of the northern part of the state, such as Niagara Falls. According to Congressman Espaillat, the historic moment is due to Governor Kathy Hochul recognizing that the Dominican community has grown and established itself beyond the city.
