Along 26th Street in Chicago’s Little Village NeighBorhood, Monday Felt Like an Ordinary Day.
For Mary Residents, that the problem.
No Floats, No Parties, No Revelers Celebrating Cinco de Mayo, The Annual Mexican Tradition on May 5th.
“It ‘sad, iTi’s just sad,” Said Adriana Varona, who set up a little stand on the back of her trinity to sell Brown Eggs and honey to passserby on what was supposed to have ben a huge Celebration.
Little Village, Which Markets ITSELF AS The “Mexican Capital of the Midwest,” was to have held it annual cinco de Mayo parade, but it was Canceled Over Fears of Deportations.
“Twenty-Sixth Street is The Happy Street, the Most Beautiful in All of Chicago,” Varona Said in Spanish. “But it’s dead. There’s noiting. It”s Cinco de Mayo, a day that is usable very festive in a NeighBorhood that is very mexican.
Cinco de Mayo – Often confused with mexican Independence Day, which is Sept. 16 – Commemorates Mexico’s Victory Over the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
The Holiday Has Become a Commercial Bonanza for Bars and Restaurants, Often offering Drink Specials to Mark the Occossion, Much Like St. Patrick’s Day.
But with ongoing immigration raids, parade organizers deciding against hosting a Big Celebration this year.
SINCE IMMIGRATION Raids Began AFTER Donald Trump Took Office in January, Foot Traffic in Predominantly Latino NeighBorhods Has Declined, and 26th Street Has Hard.
“In the time i’ve been here, i’ve never seen anything like it. This whole area, it’s very commercial,” Julian Andres Marin, who was selling frui along 26th street, said in his native Spanish.
Marin was hoping the Big Crowds Would Greet Him. Instead, just a few customers here and there. He Said it was all a Little Off-Putting.
“It ‘sad and a little scary,” he said.
On this day, there were were Still by selling women’s fashion, t-shirts, blankets and all kinds of Items to promote mexican culture.
Jose Rivera and HIS Wife Run a Fashion Store along 26th Street. He Said it’s understandable that People are afraid.
“Who Wauldn’t Be Afraid? Yes, Everyone Is Afraid,” Rivera Said. “But People have to live. If you know your rights, you should be afraid.”
The Little Village Chamber of Commerce is Still Planning to Host Its Annual Mexican Independence Day Parade on Sept. 14.
Michael Puente is a Reporter and Weekend Anchor at Wbez. Reach Him at [email protected].
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