Crowds gathered in Queens on Wednesday, September 14, to cheer for a puppet depicting a young Syrian refugee after she arrived in the area as part of a traveling theater project entitled The Walk.

According to St Ann’s Warehouse, a performing arts institution in Brooklyn, 11-foot-tall ‘Little Amal’ will travel to cultural organizations, community groups, and educational institutions across New York City’s five boroughs for 17 days until October 2 to raise awareness for immigration.

In a statement to local media, New York Mayor Eric Adams said, “Everything Little Amal stands for New York City stands for, and we are proud to welcome her to the international capital of immigrants."

Footage captured by Twitter user @ohhhZach shows a crowd in Astoria Park in Queens cheering and waving at the puppet on Wednesday evening. “A shockingly emotional experience. Make it a priority to see her,” they said in the post. Credit: @ohhhZach via Storyful

Video transcript

- Bye!

- We love you!

[CHEERING]

- We love you, Amal!

[CHEERING]

We love you.

- We love you, Amal.

- (CHANTING) Amal!

- No, no. That's not. Stop.

- OK, so did we want to--

- Bye!

- We love you!

[CHEERING]

- We love you, Amal.

[CHEERING]

We love you!

- We love you, Amal.

- (CHANTING) Amal!

- No, no. That's not. Stop.

- OK, so did we want to--