Organized by Zay Black and For The People Foundation, the picnic with barbecue, free drinks and music attracted local families and friends to come together and support the black community. 

“It’s amazing to see that nationally more people are paying attention to Juneteenth,” Black said. “I love to see people of every color to come together and celebrate this important day and our freedom.”

The city’s Mayor Steve Fulop signed an executive order on Wednesday to make Juneteenth an official city holiday. 

Local residents at the the picnic. Photo by Shiyu Xu

A man making a poster for the Juneteenth picnic. Photo by Shiyu Xu

People dancing at the Juneteenth picnic. Photo by Shiyu Xu

Local residents at the Juneteenth picnic. Photo by Shiyu Xu

A family playing hide and seek at the Juneteenth picnic in Jersey City. Photo by Shiyu Xu

Free barbecue at the Juneteenth picnic in Jersey City. Photo by Shiyu Xu

Residents gathered at the Juneteenth picnic in Jersey City. Photo by Shiyu Xu

Local residents gathered at the Juneteenth picnic in Jersey City. Photo by Shiyu Xu

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“It’s kind of jarring on the system,” New York resident, Helen Lahey said. “Because it just like randomly snowed one day and now it’s like 50 degrees and I’m wearing a sweater and it’s fine.”

The National Weather Service predicts a warmer winter than usual. The Farmer’s Almanac predicts intense cold in 2019. They both note that it is normal to have a mild winter punctuated by periods of colder weather. It seems the swings between between 15 and 50 degrees can be expected to continue on the East Coast.

“I don’t think it’s normal,” said Natalie Gorg. “But I have noticed in the last couple years that it’s done that.”

Recent New York City transplant, Christa Vaeth said that winters used to be more consistent during her Upstate New York childhood, but now the weather was getting more unpredictable.

“I think it’s more like times are changing and things are changing,” Vaeth said. “So it’s always been bad winters, but this is a little crazy. Climate change!”

On Black Friday, the Trump Administration released a report about the effects of climate change in the United States. The findings suggest that changes in local climates can already be felt. They predicted an impact on communities that rely on winter tourism in the Northeast due to less snow and warmer temperatures. It will also impact already vulnerable populations disproportionately.

Although New York’s status as a tourist destination is not contingent on the weather, New York City is marketed for winter tourism. From the holiday markets to the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular to countless performances of the Nutcracker and ice skating in Rockefeller Center, people come for the ambiance. Anna Bolstad came all the way from Norway for it, to celebrate her mom’s birthday.

“She wanted to see the city with all the Christmas lights,” Bolstad said.

New Yorkers also have a specific vision of New York in the winter. It’s a little different than the 51 degrees they are currently experiencing.

“I love New York in the winter,” Lahey said. “I think it really comes alive and there’s lights everywhere and the snow is on the street.”

Gorg said her favorite New York City winter activity is walking in Central Park.

“I like to look at the snow and the sunsets are really nice with the trees being bare,” she said.

Despite the back and forth between snow and rain and dipping temperatures,  Lahey still enjoys the winter in the city.

“It’s cold as heck,” she said. “But everyone kind of has that collective like, ‘we’re gonna make it through this’ energy.”

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A young girl with dark hair and glasses, of Egyptian and Puerto Rican descent, looked around proudly as teary-eyed guests gave her a standing ovation. Amani Aboelnour, 9, of Brooklyn, had just given a moving speech at the Children Museum of Manhattan in honor of Mayor Bill de Blasio officially closing down New York City public schools for the first time in honor of Eid al-Adha.

“I came to celebrate and cheer for the people that are looking forward to this day,” Aboelnour said at the event yesterday. “Today kids don’t have to school on Eid al-Adha, and can celebrate with their family and friends.”

Eid al Adha is a Muslim holiday that celebrates the final Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. It is a public holiday for Muslim countries, and now it is a public holiday for New York as well. Many parents who celebrate Eid al-Adha were so happy to see that the Muslim holiday was finally being recognized.

“When I saw Eid al-Adha on my daughter’s calendar when she was doing homework, I cried,” Souad Kirama, 49, from Queens said. “To see Eid al-Adha next to Christmas and Yom Kippur and all the federal holidays, and to be in inclusion was a dream come true.”

Kirama, is a community activist and member of the serving committee that campaigned for Muslim holidays in schools. She said she was a victim of hate crimes post 9/11, and decided to step up and become a community organizer to speak up for Muslim mothers that were victims of hate crimes and attacks.

Andy Ackerman, 61, the Executive Director of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan smiled and mingled with guests that came to witness the event. Ackerman was thrilled to host the event at the museum, which was also celebrating September’s Muslim Arts Festival.

“The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is hosting this event because we worked with the Coali-tion for Muslim School Holidays to present an exhibit that will open about Muslim culture.”-Ackerman said. “Because we celebrate all different artistic and religious traditions for all families, so because this is a holiday for school kids, it made so much sense to do it at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.”

The Coalition for Muslim School Holidays rallied and petitioned for years for Muslim holiday inclusion in New York. Many Muslims rallied behind Mayor de Blasio, who promised a more inclusive New York during his campaign.

“We endorsed de Blasio for his progressive views, and we didn’t regret it,” said Kirama. “We mobilized the Muslim community to vote for him, and unity was our key to victory.”

Children with “Eid NYC” shirts ran around and played as parents and reporters tried to get pic-tures of them with city officials. As the event ended, the feeling of the holiday still lingered on as people left to enjoy the rest of the holiday.

“One word to describe today is proud,” Aboelnour said. “To actually stand up in front of everyone and say through my heart and mind what I really felt about this day made me proud.”

The historical inclusion of Eid al-Adha as a holiday in New York proved to many Muslims they were finally being accepted as New Yorkers.

“Things have changed”, said Kirama. “We fought hard, we have become another fabric of New York City, and now we are a part of the melting pot.”

“What do you call a girl that is Egyptian and Puerto Rican?” Ackerman asked the crowd after Aboelnour’s speech. “A New Yorker.”

The crowd that was predominately made up of New Yorkers of Muslim faith, proudly cheered.

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