S.I. African Heritage Parade draws few spectators, marchers......comments from si live..This is a waste of money and time, could they please call this off for next year.

Derek AlvezYoung women from the group, E.N.U.F.F. ride a float in the parade.

 

The fourth annual Staten Island African Heritage Parade drew a few dozen marchers and a handful of spectators yesterday in what had been billed as a way to promote unity between the black and Mexican communities after a summer of bias-related incidents on the North Shore.
Acknowledging the slim turnout, parade organizer Bobby Digi said it was a "great challenge" to bring together busy people.
Motorcyclists from Shaolin Ryders and members of E.N.U.F.F., a group to promote confidence in young black women, were among those who either drove or rode on two floats from Central Avenue at Bay Street in St. George to Tappen Park.
Earlier in the week, Digi said members of El Centro de Hospitalidad, an immigrant resource center in Port Richmond, would march, along with musicians Tito Puente Jr. and James Brown Jr. They did not.
However, a few members of El Centro attended a parade gathering afterward in Tappen Park, Stapleton.
Several dozen police officers lined the parade route.
Digi said the parade "shows that people of African descent exist on Staten Island, and they can take pride that Staten Island has become a diverse community."
David Suarez of El Centro said he wanted to participate because, while "we have our differences, we can be brothers. "
Democrats Rep. Michael McMahon, Councilwoman Debi Rose, state Sen. Diane Savino and Assemblyman Matthew Titone were among those on hand.
Ms. Rose, the borough's first black elected official, said yesterday's event shows "we are making progress incrementally" in forging racial understanding.