The two-day El Grito festival was postponed because of possible U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, organizers said Thursday afternoon.
The Mexican Independence Day celebration was planned for Sept. 13-14 in Grant Park’s Butler Field. The festival’s location made it a “more visible target” for ICE agents and National Guard troops, the organizers added.
“This was a painful decision; however, with the heightened political tensions and given our location in downtown Chicago, we need to keep our community safe,” German Gonzalez, El Grito’s organizer, said in a statement. “To proceed in spite of the advice we’ve received directly from city and state officials and potentially expose our community to becoming collateral damage would be irresponsible. That’s a risk we are not willing to take.”
New dates were not announced, but organizers vowed to return once “conditions allow.”
Organizers said state and city officials recommended postponing the festival because of ICE actions.
Late Thursday, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office said in a statement that city officials had not recommended canceling or postponing the event, adding that the decision to continue or cancel Mexican Independence Day events is in the hands of organizers and community members.
“While we are saddened that the celebration will not take place as expected, we respect that the organizers are doing what they believe is in the best interests of the city and the Mexican community,” the city’s statement read.
The city added that officials will continue to work with organizers of El Grito and other Mexican Independence Day events to ensure the celebrations are safe.
Last year’s El Grito festival was the first time in over a decade where a city-sanctioned Mexican Independence Day event was held downtown.
The threat of immigration enforcement in Chicago looms over the city’s other Mexican Independence Day celebrations. Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday he believes the timing is intentional.
On Wednesday, the organizers for Pilsen’s Mexican Independence Day parade said the event will be held this weekend with additional precautions including more security and parade marshalls.
Vicky Lugo, one of the Pilsen parade organizers, told the Chicago Sun-Times Thursday that it’s unfortunate that El Grito had to be postponed.
“They are instilling fear during Mexican Independence Day, a time for celebration.” Lugo said. “It’s a shame we don’t get to celebrate like we normally do.”
A Selena tribute concert in Millennium Park will also go on as planned Friday night, the concert’s organizer, the National Museum of Mexican Art, said in a statement.
As of Thursday, the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade in Little Village remains scheduled for Sunday. The Little Village Chamber of Commerce, which holds the parade, said Thursday they’re still determining the “best next steps” for the celebration.
Mexican Independence Day is Sept. 16 to commemorate the start of Mexico’s struggle for independence from Spain in 1810. El Grito, often known as the Cry of Dolores, is a reference to the speech Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla gave urging people to join the fight for Mexico’s independence.