Hundreds celebrate Clifton’s diversity at festival

Women stop by the Turkish Cultural Center at the festival at Clifton High School on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016. Photo: Carmine Galosso
Women stop by the Turkish Cultural Center at the festival at Clifton High School on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016. Photo: Carmine Galosso


Date posted: October 16, 2016

Patricia Alex

Joanne Gursky has lived in Clifton, USA, for the better part of 68 years, Sumeyra Yesilova arrived from Turkey just about a year ago, and both women on Saturday happily celebrated the city’s diversity at a festival that drew hundreds of people.

Yesilova prepared rich Turkish coffee for those who stopped by a table for the Turkish Cultural Center at the festival, which took place at Clifton High School. The event, which featured food and performances from around the world, was part of more than a year-long commemoration of Clifton’s 100th anniversary.

The city was incorporated in April 1917, supplanting Acquackanonk Township, the largely rural area surrounding the City of Passaic and abutting Paterson.

The back of Joanne Gursky’s shirt, which read “I’m a part of Clifton History” was no lie.

Gursky has lived in the city for the better part of 68 years, beginning in the post-war building boom that swelled Clifton’s population.

“I like to see this,” she said, surveying the dozens of people taking advantage of the varied ethic offerings. There was Philippine barbeque and samosas from India, empanadas from Colombia and honey from the Ukraine. Gursky was getting a Hungarian crepe.

The city, which has nearly 86,000 residents, is among the most diverse in the state and has large Latino, Middle Eastern and Polish communities.

“I feel comfortable here, there are a lot of Turks and Arabic speakers,” said Yesilova, whose English was nearly impeccable.

The festival featured Ukrainian, Filipino, Colombian and Palestinian dancers, Calypso from Trinidad and Tobago and a Japanese drum and flute troupe.

Elaine Yaccarino has lived in the city’s Montclair Heights section since 1974 and she was heartened by what she saw in her hometown as compared to the sometimes divisive national political discourse.

“At this time in our country, the way the politics are, this is a wonderful way to bring the culture of so many people together,” Yaccarino said. “It’s wonderful you get so much richness and appreciation of how we are more the same than different.”

“This is a beautiful picture of worlds coming together,” said Anita DeVos, who grew up in the Dutch Hill section. She is Puerto Rican and her husband is Dutch. “There’s just so much diversity … and you can get such good food, too!”

Several other events are planned to commemorate the centennial, including the opening of a time capsule on April 26, 2017 and a parade on May 21, 2017.

Source: Bergen Record , October 15, 2016


Related News

Democracy is vanishing in Turkey, specialist says

Zeynalov reminded the attendees that Erdogan also was arrested a couple of decades ago. That eventually helped him to become famous and won him the elections five years later. But it didn’t stop Erdogan to use the same law for justifying the arrest of Zeynalov in 2014.

Pro-gov’t daily claims White House held special session on Gülen

Pro-government Turkish daily Takvim claimed in a Friday report that the White House held a special session on Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who is based in the US, in September 2014.

Washington Post: Biden needs to give Turkey’s Erdogan some tough advice

Mr. Biden ought to candidly tell his host that the US did not instigate the coup and that it will not relinquish Mr. Gulen to a witchhunt. Mr. Erdogan may not want to hear it, but he also should be reminded that crushing the rule of law will dim Turkey’s prospects. Mr. Erdogan may bask in the crowds today, but using the coup as a pretext to purge the media, academia and other spheres of independent voices will not strengthen the nation in the long run.

Gov’t media maintain attack on Bank Asya

Turkish daily Yeni Akit, with close links to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, reported on Sunday that Bank Asya extended loans to certain Turkish-owned companies abroad and failed to collect these loan debts.

Youth address global poverty in Gülen Institute’s essay contest

Hundreds of young people from around the world pondered the issue of global poverty and proposed potential solutions based on their own research and experience in an international essay contest launched by the Gülen Institute, a US-based civil society organization.

Indialogue’s Iftar Dinner: Role of Religions in Empowering Women

In collaboration with Sarva Dharma Samvaad (SDS) and Interfaith Foundation, Indialogue Foundation organised the Annual Interfaith Iftar Dinner. The success of this event left us with enormous motivation to continue this tradition of bringing people together.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Carter Center gives certificate of appreciation to Kimse Yok Mu

An Armenian from Turkey in Los Angeles…

Gov’t criticized for forcing scientific researcher to alter report

Turkish academics exiled to Germany remain in fear

Turkish family drowned in Aegean Sea while escaping from Erdogan regime

Why is Fethullah Gülen so influential?

285 Turkish teachers and families risk forcible deportation and persecution in Pakistan

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News