A parade celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islanders will take place on May 15, Mayor Eric Adams announced Wednesday evening.
The inaugural parade will step off on 6th Ave., and proceed north from West 44th Street to West 55th Street.
“Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrates New Yorkers who contribute to the rich culture that makes New York the greatest city in the world,” Adams said in a statement. “As we work to combat a spike in hate crimes, it is important to support and uplift our AAPI brothers and sisters.”
As the mayor alluded to in the announcement, attacks against Asians have increased dramatically over the course of the pandemic. NYPD statistics show that in 2021, anti-Asian incidents increased by 343%.
“Now more than ever, it is important to support New Yorkers in the AAPI community and reflect on the rich Asian American and Pacific Islander history,” Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit Commissioner Fred Kreizman added.
The parade will begin at 10:45 AM.