BFP Marchs With Black Vets in Bed Stuy's Memorial Day Parade

May 29, 2017

The weather predictions called for all day rain. But that didn't deter the Black Veterans for Social Justice (BVSJ) and their supporters from marching to commemorate their fallen comrades on Memorial Day. As it turned out, the rain stopped as we began to march up Bedford Stuyvesant's Marcy Avenue much to the thrill of residents and strollers who cheered and greeted the marchers as they walked along.

The vets gathered in the community room of Bed Stuy's Restoration Plaza where photos were taken and speeches made. Led by a Native American veteran who served as the parade's Grand Marshall, several hundred veterans and their supporters marched up Marcy Avenue. Their destination was the headquarters of the veterans service organization on Willoughby Avenue.

Several of us from Brooklyn For Peace joined our friends in BVSJ , marching with them and handing out our Choice Is Clear flyers to bystanders as we walked along. They were well received. Our position: "Honor the veterans for their service. But stop these endless wars that have created such death and destruction abroad and in our communities at home."

It was a great day. At the parade's end, we were treated to hot dogs as speakers commemorated the day. Memorable!