This year the parade celebrated Puerto Ricans and higher education and had a strong impact on many first timers.
The grand marshal is Felix Matos Rodriguez, president of Hostos Community College.
Among the 80,000 parade participants - New York Giants wide receiver and Super Bowl champion /*Victor Cruz*/, who worked the crowd just like he worked the field during the Super Bowl .but the thing that everyone wanted to see was his salsa dance. After all, dancing is a key part of the parade.
Also taking part were Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
The NAACP marched with white hoodies, in a tribute to slain Florida teenager Trayvon Martin.
The organization also planned to protest against racial profiling by the NYPD.
The parade has been an annual event in New York since 1958 and has grown to be one of the city's largest.
CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES FROM THE PARADE
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