Sign in Subscribe
Murder

West Indian Day Parade and J'Ouvert Festival to Require Increased Police Presence and Community-Based Violence Prevention

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

This year's West Indian Day Parade and J'Ouvert carnival will take place just two weeks after a mass shooting in Brooklyn killed three people and injured 11 others. Police have made no arrests in the Aug. 17 shooting, and Mayor Eric Adams is warning that retaliatory shootings could follow unless violence prevention groups work with family members of the victims to prevent them. Hundreds of nonprofit staffers will be deployed in neighborhoods in Central Brooklyn, addressing minor infractions and walking with revelers at early-morning parades, according to two leaders of the groups.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hundreds of nonprofit staffers, including violence interrupters and conflict mediators, will be deployed in neighborhoods in Central Brooklyn to address minor infractions and prevent violence during the West Indian Day Parade and J'Ouvert carnival.
  • The nonprofits will work with community members, including family members of the victims of the Aug. 17 mass shooting, to prevent retaliatory violence.
  • Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has announced that there will be more police deployed at the parade than at any other event this year, including the New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square, with "thousands" of uniformed and plainclothes officers, as well as drones and helicopters.
  • Portable metal detectors will be used to scan parade spectators, and alcohol, weapons, and large bags and backpacks will be prohibited.
  • Barricades will be installed along the parade route, and additional police officers will be deployed to local parks.
  • The city has stated that approximately 200 violence prevention workers will be deployed in neighborhoods starting on Thursday night, providing street outreach, conflict mediation, rapid response, and safe community gathering spaces.
  • The nonprofits, including Brownsville Think Tank Matters and Elite Learners, have been working with the city for several months to create an effective safety plan, including engaging with community members and communicating with the police.

Statistics:

  • 3 people killed and 11 injured in the Aug. 17 mass shooting in Brooklyn (Gothamist)
  • Hundreds of people expected to attend the J'Ouvert carnival (Mayor's statement)
  • Thousands of police officers and other personnel will be deployed at the West Indian Day Parade (Police Commissioner's statement)
  • 200 violence prevention workers will be deployed in neighborhoods starting on Thursday night (City Hall statement)
  • Five people shot along the parade route last year (Gothamist)
  • No arrests have been made in the Aug. 17 mass shooting or the shooting that injured five people along the parade route last year (Gothamist)

Sources:

  • Gothamist, "3 Dead in Mass Shooting at Brooklyn Hookah Bar, NYPD"
  • Gothamist, "Mayor Adams to Send 1000 Police Officers to the Bronx After String of Shootings"
  • Gothamist, "More Police Than Times Square on New Year's Eve: NYPD Commissioner"
  • City Hall statement, "Mayor Adams Announces Safety Plan for West Indian Day Parade and J'Ouvert Carnival"
  • Commissioner Keith Howard statement, "Youth and Community Development Commissioner"

Read more