New York saluted Israel’s 21st anniversary with a massive parade under a brilliant sunny sky today. There were some 60,000 marchers, an estimated 250,000 viewers and a lot of gaiety. The parade was termed the largest of its kind in the five years that New Yorkers and residents of adjacent states have been marching to celebrate their solidarity with the Jewish state.
Twenty-one white pigeons–symbolic of peace doves–were released and promptly flew in the direction of Madison Ave., from the Fifth Ave. parade site, near where about 100 Arabs were holding a counter-demonstration. In charge of the Arab group–the Action Committee on American-Arab Relations–was Dr. Mohammed Mehdi, its head, who said that the Arabs were mourning “genocide against the Jews in Europe by Hitler and against the Palestinians by the Zionists.”
“You don’t have to be Jewish to love Israel” one banner proclaimed, and speakers, floats and marchers reflected that mood. A number of participants–including six Negro high school bands–high stepped along the parade route. Greetings were brought by national Negro leaders.
On the reviewing stand were members of Israel’s diplomatic corps, led by Yosef Tekoah, the United Nations envoy. Mayor John V. Lindsay extended the city’s greetings. On hand with him were other government dignitaries and candidates of both parties for the New York mayoral nominations. During the festivities, a shofar was sounded by a member of the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry to remind those present of the repression of the Russian Jewish community.
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