Event attendees gathered in New York City’s Hudson River Park to hear from community activists, watch live performances and drag shows, eat, dance and socialize. 

Ts Candii, founder of Black Trans Nation, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency financial assistance and other support to sex workers looking to avoid the streets, said that the event was aimed at promoting joy. 

“The main purpose of this event was for Black joy, Black trans joy, Black trans liberation…to uplift and celebrate Black trans women while we are alive, because every hour, every day, at every turn, there is a Black transgender woman brutally murdered,” she said. “So due to all of the pain and suffering, we thought there was a need to have some kind of laughter.” 

The event was co-organized by nine different organizations, including Black Trans Nation, Housing Works, and The Brooklyn GHOST Project. Amongst the guest speakers was Tanesha Grant, founder of Parents Supporting Parents NYC, an organization providing parents with resources during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The event comes at a time when violence against the Black trans community is at an all-time-high, with the Human Rights Campaign reporting 27 known transgender or gender non-conforming murder victims this year in the United States as of September 2020. Last year there were 26 known victims. The Human Rights Campaign also reports that transgender individuals frequently face mistreatment from law enforcement and high rates of assault while incarcerated. 

“The criminal justice system was not created to protect Black lives, and it sure as hell wasn’t created to protect trans lives,” said Candii. “We are ants under their feet…they don’t care about our lives.” 

Dianne Morales speaks with an event attendee, September 19, 2020. Photo by Tori Luecking.

The Trans Liberation Now Celebration conveyed the importance of voting by having volunteers register attendees to vote in upcoming elections, and by hosting New York City mayoral candidate, Dianne Morales. 

Morales, originally from Brooklyn and the daughter of Puerto Rican parents, spoke of her campaign’s emphasis on giving voice to marginalized communities.

With tambourine in hand she said, “ I am running for mayor of New York City because it is time that we center and elevate the voices of those of us who have historically been silenced.” 

Candii believes that Morales is the candidate most ready and willing to fight for the rights of Black and transgender individuals. 

“She is on the ground with the most marginalized doing the work. When she gets into office I know that she won’t forget about me like the rest of the candidates,” she said. 

Attendees at the Trans Liberation Now Celebration, co-organized by Black Trans Nation, Housing Works, and The Brooklyn GHOST Project, September 19, 2020. Photo by Tori Luecking

The celebration is just the first of many more to happen annually, according to Candii. But between the celebrations she hopes to see more allies of the Black trans community consider the need. 

“Donate on a consistent basis, make Black trans people, Black Trans Nation, a part of your budget, and give us funds so that we can continue to invest back into the community,” she said.

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Protestors prepare to march across the Brooklyn Bridge on Juneteenth. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

Woman shows her support to protestors marching on Juneteenth. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

Demonstrators march across the Brooklyn Bridge. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

Protestor chants passionately at Juneteenth March. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

Rodrick Covington, a broadway actor, guides the chants and music during Juneteenth march. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

Protestors march through Brooklyn Bridge. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

Demonstrator holding a sign which urges the government to defund the New York Police Department. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

Protestors deciding which direction to turn after arriving in Manhattan. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

NYPD stands on sideways, watching protestors from a distance. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

Teenager showing his support for Juneteenth protests. June 19, 2020. Photo by Bessie Liu

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“Health, happiness and peace,” David Reid from Manhattan wrote down his New Year wish on a red ribbon and carefully placed it on a branch of the Madison Avenue Wishing Tree.

Reid was one of the hundreds who lined up to get their wishes hung up as part of yesterday’s  5th Annual Madison Avenue Lunar New Year celebration event 

Since ancient times for Asian culture, hanging wishes on trees for the New Year is believed to bring luck and good fortune, and encourage dreams to come true. 

“This is my first time being part of this ancient tradition,” Reid said. “It’s very exciting because this creates joy and good cheer for the beginning of the year and brings people together.”

Upon placing a red ribbon on the tree, each guest also received red envelope gifts by presenting the event passport to any five participating local retailers along the district. 

People writing down their wishes on a red ribbon before hanging them on the wishing tree. Photo by Shiyu Xu.

Retailers such as Atelier Cologne held Chinese calligraphy performance for the shoppers. Marc Jacobs and Kate Spade also introduced new products with Lunar New Year designs.

“It is great to see how some of my favorite stores also came along to celebrate this cultural event,” Alexa Alvarez from Brooklyn said. “This opens my eyes to a lot of new traditions and this is what’s so great about the city. You get to experience them all.” 

Matthew Bauer, president of Madison Avenue Business Improvement District said this year’s event is the first time they involved over 15 different Asian community organizations. 

“It’s such a simple thing, just ribbons and those branches,” Bauer said. “But it makes a difference by making people who walk down the street stop. And for a street association, when we are in a world of brick and mortar being challenged, to see people stop, and feel like they’ve done something special, that means a lot.”

According to the Asian American Federation, New York City’s Chinese population is the largest Asian ethnic group and the city is home to 82 percent of New York State’s Chinese residents. 

For each Lunar New Year, the city is filled with celebrations not only for the westerns that are not familiar with the traditions, but also for those who can’t make it home for these special days.

Ping Cheng from China hanging up her wish onto a branch of the wishing tree on Madison Avenue. Photo by Shiyu Xu.

“I do this every year with my parents in the temple to make new year wishes,” Ping Cheng from China said. “I’m so happy that I get to do this even when I’m not at home. Especially right now with everything that’s happening, it’s important to have some unifying love and hope in the air.”

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The roar of Giants fans infiltrated the air as ticker-tape and toilet paper filled the sky on Tuesday, when players invaded the Financial District’s Canyon of Heroes to commend the team’s 2012 Super Bowl victory.

“New York is the way to be,” said Staten Island native Philip Austria, 25, a Giants aficionado for the past 11 years. “This is New York’s biggest fan base for the Giants. I came in 2008 and now I’m here again, nothing’s better.”

While most parade-goers sported classic jerseys and tees to honor the two-time champions, the New York Giants fairies decided to veer away from the sea of blue.

Marni Halasa and fellow football fairy Stephanie Chernick, both of Manhattan, donned princess crowns, fluffy tutus, and extravagant wings complete with Giants tees. The ladies have also dressed the part in past parades for performance artists and agreed that the outfits are “normal for us.”

“Other NFL teams have cheerleaders, so we are going to be their official cheerleaders,” said Chernick.

Both young and old alike gathered downtown to get a glimpse of their favorite team player. For Brandon Mapp, 11, skipping school to join in the celebration was a worthy holiday.

“I’ve been a Giants fan since I was born basically, I’m very excited they won,” Mapp said as he then gushed about his sports idol scoring the winning touchdown. “When Ahmad Bradshaw sat down, that was like the best play ever.”

Anthony Bataglia, 8, also didn’t mind playing hooky to take part in his first Giants parade.

“I’m really happy because they played football their whole life to win,” Bataglia said. “It feels good. I got to see them on the floats.”

Some fervent fans, like Kevin Quinn of Oakland, Long Island, used vacation time to join in the festivities.

“I’m here legally, not playing hooky,” said Quinn, a fan since he was 2-years-old. “I sat behind the I-beam in (the old) Yankee Stadium, that was my first game.”

Quinn further added that being surrounded by others who share the same love and passion for the Giants is “crazy,” but overall, an experience that cannot be replaced.

“Manhattan is ours today,” he said.

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