‘All hands on deck’ to keep Philly Puerto Rican Day events calm

The city of Philadelphia and community organizations are working together to make sure Puerto Rican Day celebrations and parade run smoothly.

 

Last year, a city police officer was caught on video striking a woman after the parade ended.

The video went viral, and Officer Jonathan Josey was charged with assault. He later won reinstatement through arbitration.

Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez says that means this year people must be more vigilant.

“I think this has become all hands on deck. We are extremely proud of the contributions of Puerto Ricans and Latinos in this region,” she said Tuesday. “The mayor has time and time again reiterated his support for this community and the economic contributions that it makes.

“We want to send a message,” she continued. “We are going to be proud and we are going to celebrate, but we are going to do it safely.”

A post-parade event at the Dell Music Center is planned to give people a place to go instead of just hanging around neighborhoods.

Mayor Michael Nutter, who said there will probably still be some troublemakers, offered this advice: “Don’t be a knucklehead.”

Extra police will be assigned to the events and more top supervisors will be on hand when the parade steps off Sept. 29 at noon at 18th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.