Congressmember Hakeem Jeffries and Assemblymember Nikki Lucas’ 8th Annual Easter Hat Pageant was a hopping good time last week. Hundreds of seniors and family members gathered at the Brooklyn Sports Club in their best hat ensembles.
“So this was an event that really meant a lot to us, and during COVID it was a lot. We were not able to do it for a year or two,” said Lucas. “But Congressman Jeffries, like myself, [said] this is his favorite event. And he was like, we have to do it.”
Lucas said that they started the event in 2017 to celebrate the district’s seniors.
The Penn Wortman Choir performed the National Anthem. 
Assemblymember Nikki Lucas addressed the packed auditorium. 
Contestant Pat Williams, mother of Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, in the Easter Hat Pageant in Brooklyn on April 17. 
Contestant in the Easter Hat Pageant on the runway. 
Contestant in the Easter Hat Pageant on the runway. 
Two contestants in the 8th Annual Easter Hat Pageant. 
Contestant in the Easter Hat Pageant on the runway. 
First place winner Marcia Pitters (left) in the women’s Easter Hat Pageant with Assemblymember Nikki Lucas (right). 
Second-place winner of the men’s Easter Hat Pageant, Curtis Robinson. 
Attendees wear interesting cowboy hats to the event. 
House Democratic Leader and Congressmember Hakeem Jeffries (at mic) speaks at Assemblymember Nikki Lucas’ 8th Annual Easter Hat Pageant at the Brooklyn Sports Club on Thursday, April 17. 
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Jeffries spoke about some of the challenges he’s had in defending essential benefit programs like Medicaid and Social Security from President Donald Trump, tech businessman Elon Musk, and other members of Congress. “It’s good to be home in Brooklyn, a lot going on in the United States of America, these are challenging times,” said Jeffries, “we’re dealing with wickedness in high places and this is resurrection week.”
“Elon Musk says that Social Security is a Ponzi scheme. Social Security is not a Ponzi scheme, the Trump administration is a Ponzi scheme,” he continued.
The winners of the women’s Easter Hat Pageant were: Marcia Pitters in first place, Brigida Antigua in second place, and Joanne Nabors in third place. The winners of the men’s Easter Hat Pageant were: Chi Lo in first place, Curtis Robinson in second place, and Joel Rossberg in third place.