This project documents the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on a population in the center of New York City: the costumed performers dressed as Hello Kitty, Mickey Mouse, Elmo, Batman, and other icons of the entertainment industry who pose for photographs with tourists in Times Square. This population of some 300 street performers is made up almost entirely of Latin American and African migrants, often without proper immigration documents, who eke out a meager living based on the tips that tourists choose to give them. This report is supported by an Eyewitness Photojournalism grant by the Pulitzer Center and Diversify Photo.
