Thousands turned out on Sunday, Sept. 14, for the city’s Mexican Independence Day parade, one of the Midwest’s largest celebrations of Mexican culture, even as fear rippled through immigrant communities after the launch of a new federal immigration enforcement campaign.
People lined the two-mile route of the 54th annual parade through Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood to see folkloric dancers, community groups and politicians. While watching the groups pass by, local businesses and vendors circulated on the sidewalks selling food, Latin American flags and crafts.
This year’s festivities unfolded under the shadow of Operation Midway Blitz, a sweeping Immigration and Customs Enforcement initiative from the Department of Homeland Security that started a week ago.
Organizers had warned of street closures and heightened security as the city braced for the weekend festivities, which included a motorcycle and car caravan through the Loop on Saturday, Sept. 13. But the typically crowded celebration was muted compared to previous years, with a smaller caravan and lower attendance at the parade.
Chicago police were present, but ICE did not appear to target the caravan or parade.
Days earlier in Franklin Park, a suburb just outside Chicago, ICE officers fatally shot Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, a 38-year-old undocumented Mexican immigrant.
Community leaders said families are especially fearful this year. Some previous events were postponed or scaled back, and many parade organizers were distributing “know-your-rights” cards in Spanish and English leading up to and during the parade this weekend. El Grito Fest was postponed last week because of fears over the ICE raids, but was rescheduled and moved to a church in the Pilsen neighborhood, where it will now take place on Monday, Sept. 15. at St. Paul Catholic Church near 22nd Place and Hoyne Avenue.
Along 26th Street, where families crowded behind metal gates to watch the parade, immigrant rights groups lined the sidewalks with resources and support. Volunteers from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights handed out pamphlets on what to do if confronted by federal agents, while rapid response teams moved through the crowd, wearing safety vests, to easily be identified by attendees in need of help.
“Our presence is about two things,” said Andre Gordillo, director of the coalition’s Family Support Network. “One is just solidarity and support. And two is to make sure that people are safe and having fun.”
Around the United States, communities celebrated Mexican Independence Day, which is officially on Tuesday, Sept. 16 — with parades, festivals and other celebrations.
María Idania Miranda noticed the crowds were smaller at the Chicago parade than in previous years. Business at Ceaser’s Music of Illinois on 26th street, where she works, has also been down, by about 50%, she estimated.
“Last year, the parade was already full of people awaiting the parade, and we’re now seeing a very low turnout.”
Argelia, who asked that her last name not be published for fear of being targeted, was selling jerseys and flags of Latin American countries along 26th Street during the parade. She said her sales have been poor lately because people are afraid to leave their houses.
“Six or seven years ago, the Mexicans in America grew conscious that this is a sovereign and free nation, and we are contributing to the economy,” she said in Spanish. “I think we continue here, because we are resisting as one.”
The theme of the parade was “Pride and Power: Our Strength, Our Heritage.”
Jennifer Hernández, a long-time resident of the Little Village neighborhood, said she was glad the parade wasn’t canceled.
“It is unfortunate that it’s not in the best of circumstances, but we make do with what we have; that’s the good thing about it,” said Hernández, an elementary school teacher in the neighborhood.
Hernández said the parade was both a matter of pride and resistance. She attended to honor the tradition she grew up celebrating and also encouraged her students to come
“We’re all in our gear, showing our countries and representing,” she said. “I was born here in the States, so for me it’s more so ‘okay, you want to come against my people, I’m going to come out too.’ So, for a lot of us, it is now that we have to go out, we have to show that we’re not afraid. If we can, then we’re going to go out.”
Copy edited by Vanessa Orozco
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect that there were thousands in attendance at the parade and not hundreds as originally reported.
