Puerto Rican Flag, Fest Ready For The Green

Olivia Charis Photo

Puerto Rican flag raised on the Green Thursday.

Two anthems. Two homes. One heart. 

New Haven raised singer Gabriella Xavier performing the Puerto Rican National Anthem.

City officials and Puerto Rican New Haveners offered that message Thursday as they raised the flag of Puerto Rico on the Green.

The flag-raising came two days before a planned Puerto Rican cultural festival to be held on the Green, organized by Puerto Ricans United (PRU).

Thursday’s flag-raising was accompanied by the singing of both the American national anthem and the official anthem of Puerto Rico, all to celebrate the city’s Puerto Rican community and to prepare for this upcoming Saturday’s festival.

Senator Richard Blumenthal at Thursday's event

Since 2015, PRU has worked to promote and preserve Puerto Rican culture.

Mayor Justin Elicker, State Sen. Martin Looney, and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal spoke at Tuesday’s event about the impact of the Puerto Rican community on New Haven history and cultural life.

New Haven State Rep. Juan Candelaria said that, despite common misconceptions, Puerto Ricans are in fact U.S. citizens. (Puerto Rico is an unincorporated U.S. territory.) You can always identify where Puerto Ricans live” in New Haven, Candelaria said with pride.

State Rep. Juan Candelaria.

Candelaria moved to New Haven in 1979, at 8 years old.

Yo soy boricua,” he exclaimed, which translates to I am Puerto Rican.”

The crowd replied: Para que tu lo sepas!” (So that you know!)

Candelaria and other PRU members led the crowd in this chant of Puerto Rican pride in between sharing words.

Joseph Rodriguez

Saturday’s festival runs from 1 to 8:30 p.m., featuring over 20 vendors, eight live artists, and a career fair sponsored by the Workforce Alliance.

PRU Board President Joseph Rodriguez says the group’s main focus will be to honor the Puerto Rican woman” and to come enjoy a little bit of everything.”

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