One Brooklyn
July 26, 2016
BOROUGH PRESIDENT JOINS CITY OFFICIALS AND COALITION OF LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS CENTRAL BROOKLYN TO OUTLINE PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS AHEAD OF UPCOMING J’OUVERT CELEBRATIONS
BROOKLYN, NY, July 26, 2016: Today, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner William J. Bratton, and Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Community Affairs Unit Commissioner Marco Carrión unveiled #WeAreJOuvert, a campaign comprised of public safety and community outreach efforts that will be undertaken by a coalition of local stakeholders in advance of J’Ouvert festivities in Brooklyn this September. During a press conference at Medgar Evers College in Crown Heights, located just off the parade route, they joined J’Ouvert City International President Yvette Rennie and elected officials representing the area to discuss changes being implemented that prioritize the safety of residents and revelers alike during the popular celebration of Caribbean culture.
“Public safety is an all-in commitment, a partnership between community and police to advance the quality of life in our neighborhoods and ensure we have safe spaces to celebrate our cultural pride,” said Borough President Adams. “I look forward to seeing our city come together in the weeks ahead to raise up the Caribbean spirit that enlivens Brooklyn every summer. Equally important, I ask all Brooklynites to stand with the NYPD and community advocates that are working to advance peace in our streets, rooting out violence from every corner of our borough. J’Ouvert roughly translates to ‘daybreak,’ and this is indeed the breaking of a new day for this valued celebration of culture. #WeAreJOuvert.”
“I want to thank Borough President Adams and the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit for their work to bring J’Ouvert under the City’s parade permitting process and for the community outreach efforts, which discourage criminal behavior at the event,” said NYPD Commissioner Bratton. “The NYPD is committed to ensuring public safety at this very well-attended cultural celebration, which will be reflected in the Departmental resources — personnel and equipment — that will be deployed.”
“New York City’s West Indian Day celebrations highlight the rich and historical contributions of Caribbean culture across our five boroughs,” said Mayor de Blasio. “The community stands united, together with clergy, elected officials, and my administration, in wholly rejecting the small number of individuals who have tried to hijack the spirit of this day with violence. In partnership with Borough President Adams and Commissioner Bratton, we are implementing changes to the J’Ouvert parade and launching a campaign to share cultural information and combat violence. We need the buy-in of everyone involved to make this work, and these changes in collaboration with the parade organizers will go a long way towards making this campaign successful.”
“We owe it to Carey Gabay, his loved ones, and all Caribbean New Yorkers to celebrate our rich heritage safely,” said CAU Commissioner Carrión. “I want to thank Borough President Adams for leading the #WeAreJOuvert campaign so that we may put forth a message of peace collectively. I look forward to working with him and all of our partners to make this year’s celebration one the entire family can enjoy.”
Borough President Adams announced that the J’Ouvert parade would now have an official permit, issued to the organizers from J’Ouvert City International. Additional public safety measures will include 200 light towers along the route of the parade as well as a doubling of the number of NYPD officers patrolling from last year’s total; 2,000 officers will be along the route, a combination of men and women in uniform and plainclothes. The #WeAreJOuvert campaign will also have a significant public relations component encouraging participants to understand J’Ouvert as a time to celebrate Caribbean culture and to discourage the few individuals who have abused the spirit of the event in their carrying out of criminal and violent behavior; messaging will be amplified through advertising and social media as well a new website, nyc.gov/wearejouvert, which will share cultural information and anti-violence resources. Aggressive neighborhood outreach will supplement these messages as well as focus on proactive violence interruption.
“As keepers of a culture that is grounded in artistic expression and national pride that we brought with us from the Caribbean, we must continue to celebrate in a safe environment,” said Rennie. “To gangs in our community, we say ‘put down the guns.’ Brooklyn comes to life with our culture.”
Borough President Adams praised the partnership of anti-violence advocates, clergy leaders, community stakeholders, elected officials, and local police committed to advancing a safer J’Ouvert celebration.
“This #WeAreJOuvert campaign represents a critical step forward in bringing the community and police together to host an inclusive celebration of Caribbean heritage,” said State Senator Jesse Hamilton. “We need this kind of cross-community engagement, including outreach, establishing partnerships between anti-violence community groups, neighborhood leaders, clergy, and local police. Taken together, these measures will promote a safe, enjoyable celebration for all.”
“Brooklyn is home to one of the largest populations of Caribbeans and Caribbean-Americans in the City of New York,” said Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo. “The launch of the #WeAreJOuvert campaign marks the beginning of a new chapter that will ensure a safer event through public education and better community-police relations. I am proud to stand with Borough President Adams, who spearheaded the joint effort between community and City government to preserve J’Ouvert, an annual celebration of Caribbean culture widely attended by residents, revelers, and tourists of all ages every year.”
“#WeAreJOuvert means that all New Yorkers are stakeholders in our efforts to celebrate Caribbean culture,” said Stacey Gray of Parade to Peace. “This campaign is an educational opportunity for everyone to learn about Caribbean culture and history, as well as its impact on our country. #WeAreJOuvert is proof that we are more powerful than those who choose violence over peace. They know we are stronger than them today.”
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