The 79th annual East Los Angeles Mexican Independence Day Parade, billed as the nation’s oldest and largest Latin parade, took to the streets Sunday to mark the 215th anniversary of El Grito de Dolores or the Cry of Dolores and the resulting war that led to Mexico’s independence from Spain.

The parade stepped off at 10 a.m. Sunday from Cesar E. Chavez and Mednik avenues, amid an ongoing federal crackdown on illegal immigration that led to several events being canceled earlier this year.

“It’s been very challenging,” Maria Elena Serrano, president of the Mexican Civic Committee, told reporters during a Friday news conference. “We didn’t know if we were going to move forward or not at moments. But thanks to our local officials and the police department, Chief McDonnell, who’s going to be i

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