¡Viva Puerto Rico!

Despite the heat, thousands lined Fifth Avenue today to celebrate the 51st annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade. This year Dennis Rivera, leader of the Service Employees International Healthcare Union, was the parade’s grand marshal and led the procession up Fifth from 44th Street to 86th Street.

Rivera was joined by a cavalcade of politicians including Mayor Bloomberg, Governor David Paterson, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, Senator Chuck Schumer, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, and a delegation of mayors from Puerto Rican cities. Spectators were treated to marching bands, dancers, colorful floats, and beauty queens all set amidst an ocean of waving red, white, and blue flags.