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CLEVELAND (WJW) — Thousands of people lined East 146th Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive for the 53rd annual Labor Day Parade and Festival, followed by a celebration at Luke Easter Park.
The parade was packed with people enjoying marching band performances and other sights and sounds as well.
“This is a prime opportunity for us to celebrate labor and all the good work that they’re doing,” Congresswoman Shontel Brown said. “Hardworking Americans. The amazing jobs with our unions.”
Brown served as grand marshal for the parade and festival, which featured food trucks, vendors, bounce houses and more.
“Something for everyone of all ages to do,” Brown said. “So, it is a great time here and one of my favorite things to do. The people, the energy — it’s always amazing, always off the charts.”
Not only is the parade a lot of fun for residents, but it’s also a chance to meet the candidates up for reelection.
“Democracy is not a spectator sport,” Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb said. “So having candidates come out here to talk to voters and talk about why they want to be in office is so important.”
Bibb and City Council President Blaine Griffin said as summer winds down, it’s important to focus on local elections.
“And we have some primaries in September and then the general election in November,” Griffin said. “So, for municipal races, the mayor or the council, you have those races up for this year.”
Griffin is running unopposed, but Bibb is pushing hard for reelection.
“Hopefully the voters give me another four years to finish the job,” Bibb said. “So that’s the goal.”
First-time paradegoer Elizabeth Johnson said the parade gives everyone a safe place to celebrate the end of summer.
“Just something to do and celebrate. Family, friends, neighbors — and it’s fun,” Johnson said.
In-person early voting at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections ends Sept. 7 at 5 p.m.
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Tino Bovenzi
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