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NEW YORK, NY, February 20, 2022 – “Come to Chinatown, Come Celebrate With Us.” The 24th Lunar New Year’s Parade returns from a pandemic pause. Lion dancers prowled the Mott Street route ringing in The Year of The Tiger under confetti-filled sunny blue skies. The celebration seemed bittersweet as the community, roiled by Covid, struggles to keep restaurants open and fight Asian hate. Amid beautiful traditional costumes, dance and music, the din of anti-jailhouse construction, mental health concerns and anti-Asian hate were prevalent among masked spectator chants. Will survival of community customs and traditions be addressed? This, supported by attending government officials, seemed the main question of the parade day. A return to a bustling vibrant Chinatown needs your support to arise once again. Governor Hochul’s announced $10 million grant may be the needed catalyst.
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Jeff Day, an independent photographer based in New York City, documents city life celebrations and the renewal of historical tradition in contemporary voice in the streets. He is completing two books, New Orleans Black and White and New York Street. A lifelong sailor, Jeff has also documented the water’s edge and shore towns of New York, New England, the Gulf Coast, and Eastern Spain.
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To see more of Jeff’s work, click here.
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All copyrighted photos courtesy of Jeff Day.
