The alderman representing Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood says he's looking forward to Saturday's Mexican Independence Day parade in the community, even as ICE agents reportedly focus on the city's immigrant population.
Leaders of Chicago's Latine communities have been divided on how to respond to the claim from state leaders that this weekend's expected ICE enforcement surge was deliberately timed to coincide with Mexican heritage celebrations.
Illinois Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton has suggested some people should stay home rather than attend events, while Mayor Brandon Johnson has called on Chicagoans to unite around the city's Mexican population.
Pilsen alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th Ward) echoed the mayor's sentiment on Friday: "Use this moment to speak out ... come and celebrate with us," he said at City Hall, while noting that people who might be vulnerable to ICE scrutiny should take what he called "precautions."
Organizers of El Grito Chicago have postponed events scheduled for September 13-14 because of concern about the federal surge, and they say they're talking to local leaders about what to do next. "How shameful it is that we have to cancel a tradition in our community for decades because someone wants to racially profile us," Sigcho-Lopez said.
He urged people to attend Saturday's parade and stand with the city's immigrant community: "We don't capitulate to dictators."