The Dominican Day Parade in New York City started in 1982 as a small celebration with concerts and cultural events in Washington Heights section of Manhattan. Organized by Dominican American community leaders, the parade which is held annually each August on Sixth Avenue, has grown to become a showcase of national pride with thousands of participants and spectators. Similar parades, but of lesser scale, are held every year in Haverstraw, New York, Paterson, New Jersey, Boston, and along the Grand Concourse in The Bronx.
There have been several occurrences of violence during and after the event. In 1995, after the parade ended, there were reports of attacks upon local law enforcement officers with parade goers throwing glass bottles at them.[1] Some individuals were chased and threathen with bats by rival street gangs[2] In 2007, there were also arrests for two stabbings and an individual struck with a bottle. [3] [4][5]