Every nation’s independence starts with people demanding the right to shape their own future. Today, I joined thousands of Ecuadorian New Yorkers in Queens for the largest Ecuadorian parade in the United States, celebrating 217 years since Ecuador’s First Cry of Independence. From Corona to Quito, that spirit of self-determination lives on. To every Ecuadorian who has made New York City home: thank you for the culture and civic leadership you bring to our city every day.