jouvert

Paradegoers and community leaders said that for the most part, there was good collaboration between the police and the community

Residents say what was once a universally anticipated culmination of a magical Brooklyn summer is now the source of ongoing anxiety in the community.

“It has been a trying two years for us,” said Yvette Rennie, the president of J’Ouvert City International.

"It was pure crickets," said Moses Edouard, a 30-year-old East Flatbush resident. "Nothing but police."

Thankfully, the rain held out until after 10 a.m., so J'Ouvert revelers were mostly dry—people participating in the West Indian Day Parade later in the morning, including Mayor de Blasio, were not so lucky.

The NYPD has announced plans for heavy security and a heightened police presence at the annual J’Ouvert celebration.

'They killed my baby brother. My heart is broken and my soul is injured. How do I come back from that?'

The annual pre-West Indian American Day parade event, J'Ouvert, attracted crowds of revelers with Caribbean pride this morning in Brooklyn.

Streets will be blocked off starting at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday.

'I don’t have a son. So this is my legacy,' said Roy Pierre last Thursday night as he showed a small busload of visitors the elaborate costumes he was preparing for J’Ouvert.