Chicago’s annual Cinco de Mayo parade will not take place this year as organizers claim President Trump’s immigration crackdown has left them with “nothing to celebrate.”
On Thursday, Casa Puebla and the Cermak Road Chamber of Commerce announced the cancellation of this year’s festivities.
“Our community is very frightened because of the raids and the threat that ICE has imposed on the families that work tirelessly to provide a better future for their kids,” Hector Escobar, president of both organizations, claimed in a statement.
“Our community has faced bullying and prosecution and are not indulging in community activities, we feel that there is nothing to celebrate.”
Escobar told the Chicago Sun-Times the decision was difficult to make, “but the safety of our community is more important.”
“People are afraid. They’re afraid to even go to work.”
While President Trump is being blamed for this year’s cancellation, the event has been called off at least six times since 2018.
Last year’s parade was cut short due to shots fired and “gang violence in the area,” the Chicago Police Department stated at the time.
Shocking video of chaos in the streets emerged weeks later.
Some highlights from the Cinco de Mayo gang fight between the Latin Kings and Satan Disciples that led to multiple calls of "10-1" and ultimately the cancellation of the Cinco de Mayo parade.
— 16th & 17th District Chicago Police Scanner (@CPD1617Scanner) June 4, 2024
These issues persisted throughout the afternoon. Numerous arrests were made.… https://t.co/cDVak66pHv pic.twitter.com/w95S98wCnG
“Some highlights from the Cinco de Mayo gang fight between the Latin Kings and Satan Disciples that led to multiple calls of ’10-1′ and ultimately the cancellation of the Cinco de Mayo parade,” 16th & 17th District Chicago Police Scanner reported at the time.
The parade was also canceled five years in a row between 2017 and 2022 due to differences between Escobar’s groups and local officials, COVID lockdowns, and other issues.