CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Chicago’s Chinese community is full steam ahead for this weekend’s Lunar New Year celebrations in Chinatown.
"This is going to be a big parade,” parade coordinator Gene Lee said.
Lee said there will be more than 50 groups participating on Sunday, with 15 floats and 10 marching bands.
The tragedies that unfolded in California over the weekend, beg the question: Will there be increased security measures for the Chicago Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade this year?
“It’s a very good question, probably the perfect question to ask with what’s going on,” Lee said.
Lee noted that every year a large number of Chicago Police officers are detailed for the parade due to the size of the event, but this year CPD has committed to more uniformed officers for visibility, but also a special plain clothes detail.
“I think our community people, our residents, our business people appreciate the fact that we’re getting this additional security from the city, Chicago Police Department, we appreciate that. I think it will help with the situation,” Lee said.
Security, controlled by the Chicago Transit Authority, will be pitching in.
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Even with the deadly shootings in Asian American communities on the West Coast this past weekend, Lee said that the local community is telling him that the celebration of their culture and heritage must go on.
“We are going to live our lives. We’re going to celebrate and do what we want to do,” Lee said.
Anita Lau, co-chair of Chicago Chinatown Special Events, expressed her enthusiasm to celebrate and to share her culture with people from all over the Midwest.
“I’m very happy to seeing people coming to bring business to our Chinatown community,” said Lau.
There will be a vigil held on Saturday in Chinatown Square memorializing those that died last weekend in California during multiple shooting incidents involving the Asian American community.
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