Toñita and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Feature in Puerto Rican Day Parade Tribute
On Sunday, June 14, María Antonia Cay, known as Toñita, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez participated in the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City. Their float, adorned with cultural symbols and playing a mix of reggaetón and live plena, served as a moving homage to Puerto Rican New York and Toñita's contributions. Toñita, an 85-year-old Brooklyn icon, is the owner of the Caribbean Social Club, a cultural hub she founded in 1973.
María Antonia Cay, widely known as Toñita, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rode on a float during the Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sunday, June 14, in New York City. The procession, moving uptown on Fifth Avenue, was described as a tribute to Puerto Rican New York, featuring flags, reggaetón, and live music, passing a crowd of over a million people.
Toñita, an 85-year-old cultural figure from Brooklyn, owns the Caribbean Social Club. She established the club in 1973 to support the Puerto Rican baseball team she managed. Over the decades, the club has evolved into a significant community space for dining, dancing, playing dominoes, and celebrating Puerto Rican heritage.
The float itself was decorated to reflect Toñita's life and the community's history. It featured portraits of Toñita with her iconic rings, references to her baseball background, photographs of the Caribbean Social Club draped in a Puerto Rican flag, an illustration depicting her as a superhero, and a section displaying her numerous recognitions and certificates. The atmosphere was enhanced by a sound system playing reggaetón and salsa, including tracks by Tego Calderón, Calle 13, and Bad Bunny’s “NuevaYol.”
Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez was seen proudly waving a Puerto Rican flag, while Toñita greeted the crowd. Influencer Omi Hopper was also on board. Daddy Yankee was reportedly seen on a separate float during the parade. The streets were lined with over a million spectators, many displaying Puerto Rican flags, black-and-white revolutionary flags, banners representing Vega Baja, and shirts for Juncos, Toñita's hometown.
A live plena band, Taller Toca Plena Komerío, provided percussion and brass on the float, with attendees occasionally breaking into salsa dancing. The musical landscape spanned generations and genres, symbolizing the diverse cultural connections Toñita has maintained through the Caribbean Social Club for decades.
According to Billboard, the float embodied a moving archive of a woman whose life has significantly impacted Puerto Rican New York.
