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A few days ago, the streets of New York were draped in the colors of the Iranian flag for the 2026 Persian Day Parade. While the event is traditionally a celebration of Persia’s millennia-old culture, food, and music, this year’s edition took on a deeply political tone due to the escalating military crisis in Iran. The parade transformed into a platform for dissent, with a significant portion of participants openly calling for the return of Reza Pahlavi, seeing the son of the last Shah as a hope for stability and a transition toward democracy.

2026-New York-Persian Day Parade

However, the Iranian community in the US remains far from monolithic. While many waved monarchist banners, other protesters expressed skepticism about returning to the past, fearing that a Pahlavi restoration might not guarantee the pluralism demanded by younger generations. A striking new development this year was the appearance of an organized group adopting the slogan MIGA (Make Iran Great Again), a clear nod to Donald Trump’s MAGA movement. This group advocates for a hardline "Iran-first" stance and supports maximum pressure policies, reflecting the complex influence of American domestic politics on the diaspora's hopes for the future of their homeland.

The event also received significant institutional recognition with the participation of the Mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani.

2026-New York-Persian Day Parade

His presence, though brief, was intended to highlight the deep bond between the city and its large Iranian immigrant community, celebrating their cultural contribution to the metropolis. The Mayor appeared in an official capacity as a representative of all New Yorkers, attempting to maintain a neutral stance amidst the strong political currents that characterized the day.

Paolo Quadrini / S4C NYC

Analisi delle Correnti / Analysis of the Movements

(A story by Paolo Quadrini / S4C NYC)

2026-India Orissa

Cockfighting, locally known as Kukuda Ladhei, is a brutal tradition deeply embedded in the rural fabric of Odisha, particularly during winter festivals like Makar Sankranti. While the civilized world has largely banned this practice, India remains one of the few strongholds where this cruelty persists, often protected by a grey area between religious tradition and legislative loopholes.

Preparation and the Weapon The rooster is not left to its natural instincts. Months before the match, the birds undergo grueling training regimes and are fed specific diets. The most macabre detail is the metal spur (karat): a razor-sharp blade, 5 to 10 centimeters long, tied securely to the rooster's leg. This blade transforms every kick into a potentially fatal slash, ensuring the fight is brief and bloody.

The Ritual and Betting The arena is a circle of dust surrounded by hundreds of shouting men. Betting is the true engine of the event: in a single afternoon, anywhere between 500,000 to 1,000,000 rupees (thousands of euros) can change hands—a staggering amount for rural economies. The tension is palpable as "handlers" taunt the roosters against each other until the first blood is drawn.

2026-India Orissa

The End of a Life The cruelty does not end with the animal's death. The defeated rooster, often mutilated by the blades, is sold on the spot for a few rupees to the spectators. It becomes mere meat, a cheap gastronomic trophy that closes the circle of an existence spent training to die for the entertainment of others.

Although cockfighting is deeply rooted, it is not a legal practice. In recent years, the Odisha police have intensified raids to enforce the ban imposed by the Supreme Court. There have been numerous instances where law enforcement stormed makeshift arenas, leading to the arrest of dozens of individuals and the seizure of vast sums of cash and hundreds of birds already fitted with metal blades. However, these operations often face stiff resistance from local communities, who view police intervention as an attack on their cultural identity, making the eradication of this cruelty extremely difficult.

(testo e foto di Paolo Quadrini/S4C) - english version below

Esattamente quello che sembra: drag queens che leggono storie ai bambini nelle librerie scuole e biblioteche. Una iniziativa nata per i bambini dove si promuove la lettura, usando canti, giochi e racconti e allo stesso tempo si affrontano temi importanti come la diversità, l’inclusione, la gentilezza e l’accettazione di sé.

2018-New York- Earth Day Drag Queen Story Hour with Rev. Yolanda at Brooklyn Children’s Museum

A New York, Rev. Yolanda, Ona Louise, Angel Elektra, Cholula Lemon, Lil Miss Hot Mess,Witti Repartee e le altre, catturano l’immaginazione e giocano con la fluidità di genere dei bambini, li aiutano ad immaginare un mondo dove tutti possano mostrarsi come meglio desiderano e il travestimento diventa una realtà.

È iniziato tutto nel Dicembre del 2015 a San Francisco, quando la scrittrice e icona queer Michelle Tea e Bix Warden, un appassionato bibliotecario, fondano Drag Queen Story Hour, associazione no profit che oggi, oltre le biblioteche, coinvolge anche musei, scuole e librerie. Ora le drag queens leggono libri in tutti gli stati uniti, insegnando tolleranza e libertà di espressione. Anche in Inghilterra, Australia, Canada, Giappone, Germania, Svezia sono nati altri gruppi simili. Del resto bambini e drag queens formano un binomio perfetto. I bambini adorano mascherarsi, usare la fantasia anche nel modo di rappresentarsi e vedono davanti a loro persone che fanno fondamentalmente la stessa cosa, esprimono sé stesse creativamente, divertendosi.

2018-New York-Drag Queen Story Hour-Lola Lemon at Home

Ai bimbi non importa quello che indossi, se sei maschio o femmina, ma chi sei e cosa hai da dire, la performance. Spesso, prima di iniziare a leggere, gli incontri iniziano con una domanda: “cosa fai quando vedi qualcuno che non è come te?”

2018-New York-Drag Queen Story Hour-Rev.Yolanda at Way Station Bar

Naturalmente oltre l’arcobaleno esistono anche le nuvole. Contestatori religiosi, gruppi pro-famiglia, attivisti conservatori, spesso protestano perché preoccupati che questo tipo di iniziative possano incoraggiare i bambini a diventare LGBTQ.

2018-New York-Drag Queen Story Hour-Witti Repartee and Lola Lemon at Park Slope Public Library

In risposta a questo l’American Library Association (l’associazione delle biblioteche americane) ha creato una pagina web di assistenza contro ogni forma di discriminazione nei confronti delle DQSH.

Sostenere questa iniziativa è importante per tutti coloro che si sentono o si potrebbero sentire diversi a causa della loro identità, ma anche uno spazio sicuro dove insegnare e affermare rispetto e comprensione per ogni espressione di sé.

Paolo Quadrini/S4C

March 24th has to be marked in bright orange on the calendars, after the nation wide rallies to advocate for gun control: the March For Our Lives. The march came about in the aftermath of a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which left 17 dead and many more injured.

With two million marching across the United States,it was one of the largest protests in U.S. history.

These are the images of New York City Rally, shot by Paolo Quadrini/S4C. The rally was reported to have 200,000 attendees during the rally, although some estimates have the number as high as 500,000.

(PHOTO GALLERY)

(a story of Paolo Quadrini/S4C NYC)

- in italiano piu' sotto -

Founded in 1879, The Bowery Mission's purpose and goal have been to provide help and hope to the homeless and impoverished in New York for 137 years.

Their programs for men provide meals, emergency shelter, and residential recovery programs.  As women became the new face of homelessness during the 1990’s, they adapted their experience in restoring the lives of homeless men to develop programs for women that offer hope and opportunity for a transformed life.

2016-New York-ICP-Bowery Mission

Their children’s programs which serve at-risk youth began in 1894 by giving the children of recent immigrants the chance to escape the tenements in the summer.  Today, their children programs are changing the life direction of at-risk youth in New York City.

Homelessness is both the problem and the symptom of other problems that can range from financial instability to chronic substance abuse, from unemployment to family trauma, and more.  The Bowery Mission addresses homelessness as both the problem and the symptom by meeting basic needs through their compassionate care programs, and operating residential recovery programs that help the homeless to regain sobriety, reconnect with family and faith, pursue educational goals, and prepare for work and independent living.

On Thursday, November 24, 2016, The Bowery Mission served Thanksgiving Day meals to more than 7,800 men, women and children in all five boroughs of New York. At the Mission's flagship location (227 Bowery), over 650 volunteers prepared traditional turkey dinners and served over 1,700 guests in the Mission's century-old chapel, with music and festive decorations for the holiday.

2016-New York-ICP-Bowery Mission

Over the course of the day, volunteers worked to serve traditional Thanksgiving meals to all guests from 8am to 7pm.

1,743 meals were served in the century-old chapel in Bowery.

A total of 5,539 additional meals were distributed to more than 24 partners of the Bowery Mission in all five boroughs.

They prepared and served 732 turkeys, 7,000 pounds of potatoes, 1,500 pounds of vegetables, 450 pies, 200 gallons of gravy, and 900 cans of cranberry sauce, just to have the idea of how big it was the work of the Mission.

Thousands of "Blessing Bags" were distributed — a practical gift including hats, socks, gloves, and hygiene kits and each guest received a new coat.