Thousands Flock Downtown For Annual Labor Day Parade
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The 37th Annual Labor Day Parade kicked off in Downtown Pittsburgh just after 10 a.m.
Organizers expected at least 200 groups to participate, from high school bands to unions from throughout the tri-state to elected officials. Dan Felter of Robinson came specifically to see Joe Biden.
"This is the first time [I've] come to a Labor Day parade. Joe Biden was coming and I want to see the next President of the United States," Felter said.
Former Vice President Biden was in the parade, leading it off with other elected officials, but he was not here running for office.
"If I were to run for President, I would be here a lot," Biden said.
Watch the parade here:
Biden came to support labor and, as the holiday implies, to show support for America's working class.
"I've been with labor my whole career. They're the ones, as they say, [brought] me to the dance," said Biden. "And it was Pennsylvania labor, along with Delaware labor, so a lot of these guys, from Leo Girard on, have been my friends for over 30 years. So I'm happy to be here with them."
Deanne Manniella came out for the first time.
"[It's] an excellent parade that the Pittsburgh area has," she said.
Pittsburgh's Labor Day Parade is also a day for family celebrations. Many in the parade brought their kids along to learn more about unions and politics. For others, it was just a chance to come out and support kids who were in the parade.
And of course, in some circles, Labor Day marks the official kick-off of the fall campaign season, which is, in part, why so many elected officials were out in force.
Mayor Bill Peduto, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Congressman Mike Doyle, Senator Bob Casey and Connor Lamb were all in attendance, for starters.
Biden, who is from Scranton, said he has always gotten support from labor in Pennsylvania and Delaware, which, in part, was why he was participating in the Pittsburgh parade.
