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Crowds Gather To Watch Revamped Bud Billiken Day Parade

(CBS) -- A huge crowd gathered Saturday on Chicago's South Side for a back-to-school tradition with deep roots in he city's black community.

WBBM's Mike Krauser reports from the 87th Annual Bud Billiken Day Parade.

"I'd say I'd been through about 40 (parades). I cannot remember missing a Bud Billiken parade, since I was a young school teacher and would bring my students," Congressman Danny K. Davis said.

Other politicians included Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who called education "the great equalizer."

Thousands of people lined King Drive to watch the parade entries, which included bands, floats and drill teams.

Parade organizers this year limited the size of individual groups, saying the parade needed to proceed more quickly. Some organizations were angry and disappointed about the restrictions. The South Shore Drill Team did not participate because some members would have had to sit out the performance.

WBBM's Mike Krauser

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