Gina DeJesus attends Puerto Rican parade, shows support for Cleveland candidate

In the months since they escaped from Ariel Castro's Cleveland home, Amanda Berry, Michelle Knight and Gina DeJesus have asked for privacy and kept mostly to themselves. They released a video statement in early July, thanking the public for its support and well wishes.

In recent weeks, however, the three women have made small appearances in public around Cleveland. Berry, who had Castro's daughter while in captivity, showed up on stage with Nelly late last month, while Knight made a personal statement at Castro's sentencing hearing last week.

In her first public appearance since last month's video statement, DeJesus showed up at Cleveland's Puerto Rican Parade on Sunday, riding in the campaign car of city council candidate Janet Garcia.

The theme of this year's parade is "a celebration of renewed hope and community healing" for the city.

Wearing a Janet Garcia t-shirt, DeJesus waved a Puerto Rican flag as the car rolled through Cleveland's streets.

Castro was sentenced to life in prison without parole, plus 1,000 years, last week.