"A kaleidoscope of flags from at least a dozen Caribbean nations waved on both sides of Eastern Parkway as New York City's West Indian American Parade kicked off Monday in Brooklyn. The smell of grilling meat mingled with clouds of cannabis smoke as reggaeton and soca boomed from thousands of speakers up and down the nearly 2-mile route. Friends embraced friends while toddlers and grannies danced in the street."
"Street sellers hawked soda, beer and "nutcrackers," sweet fruit juice mixed with liquor. But underneath the good vibes at this year's celebration simmered anger and frustration at President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration. Since returning to office in January, Trump has stepped up deportation efforts on Long Island and nationwide and made it more difficult for immigrants to remain in the country legally."
Thousands of people lined Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn for the West Indian American Parade, with flags from a dozen Caribbean nations, reggaeton and soca blasting, and grilling meat and cannabis-scented air. Friends, toddlers and elders danced while vendors sold flags, T-shirts and Caribbean dishes such as oxtails, goat, steamed red snapper and jerk chicken. Street sellers offered soda, beer and "nutcrackers," sweet fruit juice mixed with liquor. Anger and frustration simmered among immigrants over intensified deportation efforts under President Donald Trump, including sweeps affecting people without serious criminal records. Late Monday, police reported a shooting along the parade route; a man was shot in the leg and a woman was grazed by a bullet.
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