As Eastern Caribbean nationals paraded queens and kings along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway on Labor Day, Haitian demonstrators displayed images of “a fake king” and a “fake president of Haiti.”
“Michel “Sweet Micky” Martelly belongs in jail — not on the parkway for Labor Day,” a sign carried by protesters read.
Although feathers, sequins, flags, flour and oil took the spotlight to showcase masqueraders reveling in Caribbean pride, heritage and culture amidst the revelry hundreds of Haitian nationals voiced protest against Michel “Sweet Micky” Martelly, the former president of the French-creole Caribbean island.
Martelly left office February 2016 after serving since 2011.
Brandishing signs calling for his arrest among their displays were images showcasing the former leader behind bars.
Declaring his status “persona non-grata in New York” while shouting, singing and dancing along the periphery of the official parade route, supporters of the July 7th Collective in Support of the Haitian People distracted spectators from watching a Haitian group as they paraded from Schenectady Ave. to the Brooklyn Museum. Continue reading