Deportation fears mute Cinco de Mayo in Little Village: 'It's so sad and a little scary'
Along 26th Street in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, Monday felt like an ordinary day.
For many residents, that’s the problem.
No floats, no parties, no revelers celebrating Cinco de Mayo, the annual Mexican tradition on May 5th.
“It’s sad, it’s just sad,” said Adriana Varona, who set up a little stand on the back of her truck to sell brown eggs and honey to passersby on what was supposed to have been a huge celebration.
Little Village, which markets itself as the “Mexican Capital of the Midwest,” was to have held its annual Cinco de Mayo parade Monday, but it was canceled over fears of deportations.
“Twenty-sixth Street is the happiest street, the most beautiful in all of Chicago,” Varona said in Spanish. “But it’s dead. There’s nothing. It’s Cinco de Mayo, a day that’s usually very festive in a neighborhood that is very Mexican. But it’s quiet.”
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 occasion, much like St. Patrick’s Day.
But with ongoing immigration raids, parade organizers decided against hosting a big celebration this year.
Since immigration raids began after President Donald Trump took office in January, foot traffic in predominately Latino neighborhoods has declined, and 26th Street has been hit 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 fruit drinks along 26th Street, said in his native Spanish.
Marin was hoping big crowds would greet him. Instead, just a few customers here and there. He said it was all a little off-putting.
“It’s so sad and a little scary,” he said.
On this day, there were still those 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 wouldn’t be afraid? Yes,everyone is afraid,” Rivera said. “But people have to live. If you know your rights, you shouldn’t 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 mpuente@wbez.org.