Photos: Huge Crowds Fill Fifth Avenue For Puerto Rican Day Parade

June 10, 2019, 11:17 a.m.

The Mayor was a no-show, but Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had a blast, laughing and dancing and at one point literally sprinting up the avenue, giving out high fives.

The 62nd annual Puerto Rican Day Parade turned almost two miles of Fifth Avenue into a flag-waving, music-blasting, red-white-and-blue dance party on Sunday, as tens of thousands of people filled the streets to celebrate their culture and heritage.

Presidential candidate and, oh, yes, Mayor Bill de Blasio skipped the festivities for a trip to Iowa, and Governor Andrew Cuomo took full advantage of the mayor's absence by gleefully hogging the ribbon-cutting spotlight. Other politicians in attendance included Senator Chuck Schumer, Attorney General Letitia James, Comptroller Scott Stringer, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.

Most electrifying, however, was U.S. Representative (and Puerto Rican) Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who bolted up the avenue, laughing and waving and giving high-fives to the delighted crowd for several blocks, her staffers and the media struggling to keep up. (A Republican from New Jersey who wants to run against her next year claims she ran away from him... or maybe she wanted to greet people on the other side of the street?)

As has been the custom in recent years there was also a strong protest element to the party, with groups expressing their anger over Puerto Rico's stifling debt and corporate control, as well as the lack of U.S. aid after Hurricane Maria, and calling for independence. A large union presence at the parade also kept the focus on political issues such a fair wages and health care for all.

Massive sponsored floats giving out freebies brought a different sort of message to the proceedings, and pop star Ricky Martin, this year's Grand Marshal, was greeted with shrieks all along the route.