Scenes from Montclair’s 3rd Annual Disability Pride Parade and Rally
Hundreds of people showed up on Sunday, May 21, to celebrate the community of people with disabilities in Montclair in the Third Annual Montclair Disability Pride Parade and Rally, sponsored by the Montclair Friday Group (a parents support and social action group for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities); the Montclair State University Disability Caucus; and the People with Disabilities Advisory Committee to the Township of Montclair.
Guest speakers included, among many other local residents and MSU students, Steve Way (from the hit Hulu show “Ramy”), a 32-year-old actor, comedian, writer and speaker. He was born with muscular dystrophy and is an advocate for disability rights.
The parade also featured Patrice Jetter, longtime Montclair crossing guard, Special Olympics competitor and disability rights activist. Jetter is engaged in activism combating the injustice of marriage inequality for people with disabilities who lose their benefits from the government if they choose to be legally married.
Other speakers spoke about ableism and the need to make buildings wheelchair accessible, the need to shift how we view disability, and the need for inclusivity in schools and all settings in the community.
Kibo LaRocca and organizer Alma Schneider lead the walk and roll to Rand Park. (KATE ALBRIGHT/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Disability rights activist Minal Rosenblum holds a sign at the start of the Disability Pride Parade on Sunday, May 21. (CASSIDY SHAPIRO/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Marchers in the Disability Pride Parade on the way to Rand Park. (CASSIDY SHAPIRO/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Proud Dad marches to Rand Park at the Disability Pride Parade. (CASSIDY SHAPIRO/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Marchers head for Rand Park at the Disability Pride Parade. (KATE ALBRIGHT/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Marchers walk and roll toward Rand Park during the Disability Pride Parade on Sunday, May 21. (WILLIAM PENN/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Paraprofessional Lora Orta and Montclair High School student Jessica Kunkin. (CASSIDY SHAPIRO/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Child of Brian and Caitlyn Cade at Disability Pride Parade. (CASSIDY SHAPIRO/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Olivier Bernier and son Emilio at the Disability Pride Parade. (CASSIDY SHAPIRO/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
From left, speakers Maria Linietski, Alma Schneider, Patrice Jetter and Miral Rosenblum. (CASSIDY SHAPIRO/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Priya Lalvani, associate professor of disability studies at Montclair State University, stands up for inclusive education. (WILLIAM PENN/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Noah Gale performs "True Colors" during the rally at Rand Park. (KATE ALBRIGHT/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
People in the crowd sway to Noah Gale's performance of "True Colors." (KATE ALBRIGHT/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Maria Linietsky performs a parody of the song "Because I Got High" by Afroman. (WILLIAM PENN/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Nick Renino cuddles with his dad, Chris Renino, during the rally at Rand Park. (KATE ALBRIGHT/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
"Lupus warrior" and disability advocate Judith Mills said, "I learned as a student at MSU to be loud and make lupus visible because our community is underserved and a lot of people remain undiagnosed." (KATE ALBRIGHT/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Nick Ellis cuddles with his mom, Lily Vakili. (KATE ALBRIGHT/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Organizer Alma Schneider dances with a youngster during a musical performance. (KATE ALBRIGHT/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Patrice Jetter dances during a musical performance at the rally at Rand Park. (KATE ALBRIGHT/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Steve Way, from the hit Hulu series "Ramy," told the crowd that they should be proud of the organizers and themselves. "Ten years ago an event like this wouldn't have happened," he said. (KATE ALBRIGHT/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Richard Gaskin performs under the name "Professor X" at Rand Park. (WILLIAM PENN/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Minal Rosenblum told the crowd that people with Down syndrome are not aliens. "I am disabled but I am not special," she said. "Please don't call me that." (KATE ALBRIGHT / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)