Little Amal visits Brooklyn, and residents fall in love
12-foot puppet of Syrian refugee child draws crowds
Little Amal, a 12-foot-tall, lifelike puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl, walked through the streets of Brooklyn on Monday, touching the hearts of thousands as she visited Coney Island, Brooklyn Public Library, BAM in Fort Greene and Brooklyn Bridge Park in DUMBO.
As she walked, Amal appeared as if she was searching her surroundings for a place to call home — sometimes peering into second-story windows, sometimes leaning against traffic signs, looking weary. Hundreds of well-wishers greeted her at each stop and followed her, gaping and clapping as she traveled, accompanied by several unobtrusive puppeteers.
Little Amal has become an international sensation. Since July 2021, she has visited a dozen countries, symbolizing children fleeing disasters, violence and persecution.
Stuyvesant Heights resident Tunisia Rawles came to The Plaza at 300 Ashland Pl. to celebrate Little Amal’s arrival. (This stop was sponsored by the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Two Trees and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership.) Hearing Little Amal’s refugee story made tears come to her eyes, she said.