Thousands gather in New York for 43rd annual Turkish Day Parade
Thousands of members of the Turkish-American community gathered in New York City for the 43rd annual Turkish Day Parade, a vibrant, decades-long celebration of Turkish culture and identity in the United States.
The traditional event brought together Turkish diplomats, community leaders, artists and representatives of non-governmental organizations from across the country.
Originally launched in 1981 by the Federation of Turkish American Associations (TADF) in response to attacks carried out by the Armenian terrorist organization ASALA against Turkish diplomats, the parade has since evolved into a broader cultural festival promoting Turkish heritage.
The parade drew participants not only from the Turkish-American community but also from Turkish Cyprus, Azerbaijan and other parts of the Turkic world. Spectators lined Madison Avenue as cultural associations, schools and educational institutions greeted the procession along the route from East 38th Street to Madison Square Park.
