B-roll, Video, Audio, Photos & Rush Transcript: Governor Hochul Attends Pakistani Independence Day Festival

Earlier today, Governor Hochul made an appearance at the Pakistani Independence Day Festival.

B-ROLL of the Governor attending the Pakistani Independence Day Festival is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here(h.264, mp4).

VIDEO: The event is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here(h.264, mp4).

AUDIO: The Governor's remarks are available in audio form here.

PHOTOS: The Governor's Flickr page has photos of the event here.

A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:

Thank you, thank you. So happy to be back in Little Pakistan, and I think this is such a reminder of what is so fascinating about New York State and New York City - the diversity we have, the welcoming cultures and religions and beliefs, and you have people like Mohammad who just told me that his father started just a grocery store how many years ago, Mohammad? Forty years ago. A little grocery store, and it grew into this magnificent place called Little Pakistan. And I want to thank all the leaders of the Merchants Association: Javed, Mr. Khan, who's the leader of the Merchants Association here. Let's give a round of applause. Again, Mohammad, I want to thank you always for coming to all of our Iftar dinners and our celebrations of culture up in Albany. Great leader, and I want to thank everyone else who's been involved.

But Happy Pakistan Independence Day, everyone. No better way to celebrate 79 years of independence at this incredible Brooklyn Mela, which I understand is one of the biggest and the best in the entire country. Mela means a gathering, and it's a special reminder of what we're all about, is gathering as people to celebrate. And not just for the Pakistani community, but also for others to come and see how vibrant and important this community is to all of us here in New York.

So I also want to say this, I know there's a lot of anxiety about what is happening with the federal government and ICE coming to neighborhoods. We are here to protect you. You are a part of our family. Whether you came here a year ago or you came here 40 or 50 or 100 years ago, you're part of the New York family and we'll continue to protect that. I want you to know that.

Protect your rights to be, live here freely, worship freely, without any fear of Islamophobia or discrimination or harassment anywhere. And I thank the members of the NYPD who are here to enforce our laws. Let's give them a round of applause. Thank you. Great partners of mine. I also want you to say hello to your first ever First Gentleman. You never had a woman Governor, so you never had a First Gentleman. Say hello to my husband, wearing the green, Bill Hochul.

So I want to present a proclamation to you so we can continue our celebration and a chance to walk around the community. And it's a very big, important proclamation with a lot of words on it, which I will not read to you, but because it's too long, but it celebrates the 79th Independence Day of Pakistan. It stands as a beautiful testament to the enduring progress and joyful heart of the Pakistani American community, bridging rich traditions with future dreams and enriching our lives with an overwhelming sense of happiness, gratitude and pride. Signed by Governor Kathy Hochul on this day to celebrate Pakistan Independence Day. Congratulations, everyone.