PASADENA, Calif. — The 2012 Tournament of Roses Parade went off without a hitch this morning in Pasadena, then thousands of protesters followed in its wake carrying a 250-foot-long banner representing the U.S. Constitution and a 70-foot-long octopus representing corporate greed.

The chanting marchers intended to walk the entire parade route. Behind them were three truckloads of Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies in riot gear, though no problems had been reported.

The 123rd Rose Parade, which was today because the New Year’s Day holiday fell on a Sunday, attracted hundreds of thousands of spectators and a worldwide audience.

This year, the floral-decked floats and gleaming marching bands were shadowed by anger at the nation’s political and financial woes from several hundred anti-Wall Street protesters who gathered at a nearby park, then took to the street after the parade.

Some 700,000 spectators, some of whom camped out in sleeping bags overnight to secure a prime viewing spot, lined the 5.5-mile route through the city of Pasadena. Another 40 million people were expected to watch the procession of 44 floats, 16 marching bands and 22 equestrian troupes on U.S. television.