Hours for NYC's Caribbean festival shifted to fight violence
NEW YORK (AP) — City officials shifted the start time of a pre-dawn festival celebrating Caribbean culture and are taking other security precautions to stem violence ahead of the West Indian Day Parade this year.
J'ouvert usually begins at 4 a.m. on Labor Day on the streets of Brooklyn but will start this year at 6 a.m. Barriers will be placed along the route. Revelers will have to pass through metal detectors, and no alcohol or backpacks will be allowed. Light towers will be placed at entry points to make it easier to see. Thousands of additional officers will be on patrol and will police party areas outside the barriers.
Police say the precautions are similar to security during New Year's Eve in Times Square.