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Over 250K Pack East L.A. For Mexican Parade
Sep 10, 2006 5:07 pm US/Pacific

(CBS) EAST LOS ANGELES Thousands of people packed the streets of East Los Angeles for a Mexican Independence Parade, billed as the largest celebration of its kind in the United States.

The 26th annual East Los Angeles Mexican Independence Parade started about 11 a.m. and by noon about 250,000 people were in attendance, according to Los Angeles County sheriff's Dep. Cornelius Healey of the East Los Angeles station.

The parade began at the corner of East Cesar Chavez Avenue and Indiana Street and ended at Cesar Chavez Avenue and Mednik Avenue.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa [wearing the colors of hostile Mexico] served as grand marshal. Members of Major League Soccer's Chivas USA also took part in the parade on a double-decker bus.

The parade was preceded by a reception at the Super Market at the corner of E. Cesar Chavez Avenue and Indiana Street.

About 70 deputies, explorers, reserves and five civilian volunteers were monitoring the parade, according to Healey.