Puerto Rican Day Parade Pre-celebration Held by NYC Officials to Honor Calle 13 as the 'Kings of the Parade'
The Spanish-language rappers that make up the duo Calle 13 -- frontman René Pérez Joglar and his brother Eduardo Cabra -- will be honored in New York City today for their social activism and commentary on injustice, inequality and Puerto Rican issues, BuzzFeed reported.
While René Perez, whose moniker is "Residente" from Calle 13 (and Cabra is "Visitante"), has already reportedly been named the 'King' of the Puerto Rican Day parade on Sunday, June 8, the band as a whole is also being honored by New York City officials.
With the backing of Mayor Bill de Blasio and the first Puerto Rican and Latina New York City council speaker, Melissa Mark-Viverito, the Puerto Rican Day Parade pre-celebration will kick off in a new way this year.
"I approached him and told him I would like to jointly host [the reception at Gracie Mansion] since I'm the first Puerto Rican in this position," Mark-Viverito said, according to BuzzFeed. In addition to Mark-Viverito, Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez will also serve a grand marshal.
The very popular and political Calle 13 recently released their newest "Multi_Viral," which has a duet with one of the most iconic political troubadours of Latin America: Cuba's Silvio Rodriguez. Their last record, "Entren Los Que Quieran," was a huge success and received a record 10 Latin Grammy nominations. They currently have 19 Latin Grammys, which is more than any other Latin group.
Perez has been very vocal on the incarceration of Oscar López Rivera, a supporter of Puerto Rican independence, "who has served 33 years of a 70-year prison term and was charged with seditious conspiracy against the U.S."
While Mark-Viverito isn't endorsing the duo's viewpoints, she encourages freedom of speech and admires those who aren't afraid to put their opinions out front and center, implement change and spotlight injustices and Puerto Rican issues.
"I believe when you have a level of notoriety or a prominent position it's important when you're not afraid to express an opinion, especially the way they challenge through their lyrics," she said, according to BuzzFeed. "They speak out against injustice and issues that others may shy away from. I may not agree with them on everything, but the fact that they even dare to challenge people is good."
Perez said he is thrilled with the gesture from NYC officials and the respect he's been given for speaking his mind.
"I am proud to have been chosen to preside over the Puerto Rican Day parade in New York," Perez told BuzzFeed in Spanish. "This is a celebration that permits us to come together to honor our culture and celebrate our nationality and identity."
This year the parade will be "returning to its roots" by redirecting its energy more towards cultural, educational and philanthropic goals amid a state investigation that uncovered "years of mismanagement" and criticism that the parade has gotten too rowdy and out of control, according to The New York Times.
Every float will be required to have a cultural theme for when they make their way across Fifth Avenue, and there will also be a food drive for Latino communities along the parade route.
Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez, the chairwoman of the board of directors for the parade group, told The New York Times, "The board would award $30,000 in scholarships this year -- up from $10,000 last year -- to at least 15 students and that the group hoped to eventually finance 100 scholarships annually."
In addition, Louis Maldonado, a board member, said, "The parade group had also taken steps to emphasize its commitment to the arts, culture and education. A beauty pageant for the parade, for example, would be replaced with an initiative that emphasizes professional development such as improving interview skills."