Cold rain didn’t stop thousands of people from celebrating Mexican heritage at Detroit’s Cinco de Mayo Parade on Sunday. This year’s event carried extra meaning for many, due to the ongoing crackdown on migrants under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The parade honors the Mexican Army’s victory over French troops at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The day isn’t widely celebrated in Mexico, but it has become an important celebration of culture and unity for Mexican Americans in the United States.
This year marked the 60th anniversary of Detroit’s parade. Festivities began at Patton Park, where a lively crowd gathered before marching west on West Vernor Highway. An organizer with the Mexican Patriotic Committee of Metro Detroit told the Detroit Free Press they never considered canceling this year’s festivities — even as cities like Chicago and Philadelphia did.
