Annual Mexican Independence Day Parade brings fewer crowds
The silence at the start of the parade of the Mexican independence day of Pilsen on Saturday morning broke as soon as someone cried “Viva, mexico!“”
A second woman then sounded, shouting “Don’t be afraid, Viva, mexico!“As men on horses decorated in green and red, the folk dancers with colorful skirts and a caravan of vintage cars made their way in the 18th street. Others proudly agitated Mexican flags and transported panels which said” no ice “and” stop the illegal deportation “.
While the crowd of the 24th annual parade was much thinner and more moderate than in previous years, the hundreds who presented themselves that they were delighted to celebrate their culture despite threats from the White House.
Others in the Chicago region spent the day protesting against any imminent action.
President Donald Trump posted on social networks earlier on Saturday morning, an image created by AI-Creation of survaining military helicopters Le Lac de Chicago with the title “Chipocalypse Now”, apparently preparing the way for increased actions in terms of immigration application. In the past two weeks, his administration has repeatedly threatened to send federal agents to Chicago for an immigration repression.
The agents were to arrive by the end of the week and some local officials have been informed that the campaign could continue for about 45 days without stopping. Trump also said he was planning to deploy national guard troops to focus on crime, even if the number of crimes has decreased in recent years.
At the intersection of 18th Street and South Blue Island Avenue, Sam Herrera, 28, waited with his family that the parade begins. They were adorned with a half-man and a half-American flag. For Herrera, who is from Little Village but who has family in Pilsen, the one -hour parade had a double concentration – celebrating heritage and ensuring that the Hispanic community remains safe.
“We celebrate it … and we make sure that we know that we are good. If things are decreasing, we are here, we have our phones ready to record and make sure that everything is above the law,” said Herrera. “It’s the greatest thing.”
The day had started fairly quietly in the neighborhood. The streets that generally have people who claim stains for the parades of parades at 7 a.m. were almost empty at 11 a.m., an hour before the parade. Herrera does not think, however, that it will be a permanent change.
“Right now, tension is a little bit high. People are probably celebrating at home. People are just trying to be safe here,” said Herrera, adding that he hopes that immigration and customs application happen this year, the crowd of next year’s parade will come back to normal.
Governor JB Pritzker had said that it was “deeply worried” that ice would target the celebrations of the Mexican independence day in Chicago, which started this weekend with the Pilsen parade, suggesting that the administration may have chosen to target the city due to important events. Pritzker and other officials for the most part democrats have vehemently expressed their opposition to Trump’s plan.
El Grito Chicago, a Mexican independence day festival in the city center scheduled for next weekend, has been postponed in response, just like other festivities in the Chicago region. The German González, the main organizer of the event, told the gallery that he did not want the festival “to be used as a pawn in political games intended to divide our city and our nation”. The small village parade scheduled for next week will continue as planned, the organizers announced on Friday.
The organizers of the Pilsen parade on Saturday doubled their decision to continue, claiming that they would not be prevented from celebrating “our inheritance, our culture” despite the fears of deportation. Vicky Lugo, secretary of united merchants of the Pilsen Chamber of Commerce, said on Saturday that “no one liked on our parade”. She said there were no incidents or reports from federal immigration agents.
Lugo did not have a specific participation number, but recognized that it was lower than that usually. It previously estimated that around 3,000 spectators would attend. People were very cautious and others watched Windows in their homes, according to Lugo. However, there was a lot of support from the whole city and local businesses, she said.
“(There was) a lot of support and the desire to go out and celebrate with us, to celebrate with those who fear being expelled or those who wish to stay in the shadows,” she said.
Lugo hopes that elected officials continue to present themselves to protect immigrants “in any way possible,” she said. There were some additional precautions in place during the parade, previously noted Lugo. The volunteers placed along the parade road watched for immigration agents and distributed “knowing your rights” cards. Mayor Brandon Johnson also said that he was working with organizers of various events of Mexican independence day to “support and promote safe celebrations”.
The president of the Little Village Community Council Baltazar Iríquez was in the parade to distribute whistles that people could blow if the ice agents arise. It was “very sad” to see fewer people during the parade, he said, adding, generally the neighborhood is filled with sellers and people from across the United States-Iowa, Michigan, Indiana and more.
“Today, tourists have not come, and residents are definitely afraid, and it is alone,” said Iríquez. “But we hope to keep the resistance and show this administration (Trump) that we are not afraid and that we will continue our lives, but I hope that things improve.”
Even with the present fear, Mexican pride does not disappear, said Iríquez. If anything, it grows, he added.
“We are here by saying: ‘VIA México, And that’s something we are going to continue to do, “he said.
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