A national group says it wants to reclaim the significance of Cinco de Mayo, the anniversary of Mexico s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. The win for Mexico secured its rights to its own land, water and culture. Olivia Juarez - Public Lands program director for the group GreenLatinos - said, through a "Take Back Cinco de Mayo" campaign, they want people to recognize the holiday as a day of action for cultural and environmental defense. .