Folkl\u00f3rico dancer Josefina Rodriguez marched down and danced in Pilsen\u2019s 24th annual Mexican Independence Day parade, undeterred by the Trump administration\u2019s plans to ramp up immigration enforcement in Chicago.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t feel scared,\u201d Rodriguez, 80, told the Sun-Times. \u201cI\u2019m very happy to participate. I hope this tradition will never end. I hope people won\u2019t be scared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re here, and we\u2019re not leaving,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
G. Mejia, 4, plays under a Mexican flag near West 16th Street in Pilsen before the Mexican Independence Day Parade kicked off Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n |<\/span> Itzlasiwal Gamboa holds her baby Venus Gamboa, who is two and a half months old, during the Mexican Independence Day Parade on West 18th Street in Pilsen on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n |<\/span> Paradegoers march on West 18th Street during the Mexican Independence Day Parade in Pilsen on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n |<\/span> Paradegoers march as police officers monitor the area on West 18th Street during the Mexican Independence Day Parade in Pilsen on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n |<\/span> Pablo Ramirez with the Pilsen Arts and Community House distributes whistles to paradegoers before the Mexican Independence Day Parade near West 16th Street in Pilsen on Saturday. People were instructed to use their whistles if they saw I.C.E. agents. | Pat Nabong\/Sun-Times<\/span><\/p>\n |<\/span> Aubree Lugo, 7, sits on top of a car during the Mexican Independence Day Parade in Pilsen on Saturday. <\/span><\/p>\n |<\/span> Miguel Angelo, who said some of his relatives were afraid to attend the Mexican Independence Day Parade because of potential I.C.E. activity, waves a Mexican flag on West 18th Street in Pilsen on Saturday. \u201cThere is fear but if you\u2019re in a crowd, you feel safer. I feel united. This is who we are,\u201d Angelo said. | Pat Nabong\/Sun-Times<\/span><\/p>\n |<\/span> Paradegoers march on West 18th Street during the Mexican Independence Day Parade in Pilsen on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n |<\/span> People watch the Mexican Independence Day Parade on West 18th Street in Pilsen on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n |<\/span> A paradegoer stands beside a painting of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the \u201cFather of Mexican Independence,\u201d during the Mexican Independence Day Parade near West 16th Street and South Newberry Avenue in Pilsen on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n |<\/span> An attendee holds a sign that reads, \u201cNo ICE\u201d during the Mexican Independence Day Parade on West 18th Street in Pilsen on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n |<\/span> Paradegoers march as police officers monitor the area on West 18th Street during the Mexican Independence Day Parade in Pilsen on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n |<\/span> Paradegoers on horses near West 16th Street and South Peoria Street prepare for the Mexican Independence Day Parade in Pilsen on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n |<\/span> U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, U.S. Rep. Jes\u00fas \u201cChuy\u201d Garcia and U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley march during the Mexican Independence Day Parade on West 18th Street in Pilsen on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n |<\/span> Paradegoers march as police officers monitor the area on West 18th Street during the Mexican Independence Day Parade in Pilsen on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n |<\/span> Paradegoers demanding a stop to deportations chant during the Mexican Independence Day Parade on West 18th Street in Pilsen on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n |<\/span> An attendee holds a sign that reads, \u201cNo king,\u201d in reference to President Donald Trump during the Mexican Independence Day Parade in Pilsen on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n |<\/span> Paradegoers march on West 18th Street during the Mexican Independence Day Parade in Pilsen on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n |<\/span> <\/bsp-carousel><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Rodriguez, of Little Village, was just one of thousands gathered to celebrate the parade, despite President Donald Trump saying federal agents \u201care going in\u201d<\/a> to Chicago in his mission to curb crime and make immigration arrests in Chicago. Sen. Dick Durbin, Rep. Mike Quigley and Rep. Jes\u00fas \u201cChuy\u201d Garcia were in attendance at the parade.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important to show up,\u201d Garcia told the Sun-Times. \u201cIt\u2019s important to live normally, and it\u2019s important to invite all of our allies to be supportive of the community. This is the time for solidarity.\u201d<\/p>\n The parade in Pilsen is just one of several events planned throughout the city for Mexican Independence Day, including the Little Village parade happening Sept. 14. The two-day annual El Grito festival was recently postponed<\/u><\/a> due to possible U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity.<\/p>\n Organizers said there were more people in attendance this year at the Pilsen parade, but they didn\u2019t provide exact estimates. In previous years, organizers said, around 3,000 people showed up.<\/p>\n Vicky Lugo, secretary of the United Merchants of Pilsen Chamber of Commerce, said many people are scared to show up to events like the parade due to anti-immigrant rhetoric and the threat of arrests.<\/p>\n \u201cBut because we felt the support of the community \u2026 that is why we decided to continue on with the parade,\u201d she told the Sun-Times. \u201cWe have to be a voice for a people without a voice.\u201d<\/p>\n Paradegoers demanding a stop to deportations chant during the Mexican Independence Day Parade on West 18th Street in Pilsen on Saturday. <\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cI\u2019ve told people, be careful, but don\u2019t be afraid,\u201d he said. Lugo said the parade went on with additional precautions, such as parade participants handing out whistles for people to sound if ICE was present or attempting to make arrests. No ICE agents were seen at the parade.<\/p>\n Andrea Soria, 27, walked alongside her 6-year-old daughter, handing out whistles to parade attendees. She said she had a lot of mixed emotions since many community members were scared to participate in the parade.<\/p>\n \u201cA community that helps out is what makes stronger people,\u201d Soria, a resident of Hermosa Park, said. \u201cIt feels good that we\u2019re here to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Durbin said he\u2019s seen a \u201cgenuine fear\u201d in the city of increased immigration arrests. He said it was important to him to show up to the parade as tensions rise.<\/p>\n
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