Chicago’s El Grito Festival scales down amid immigration fears

CHICAGO (WGN) — Janet Arias arrived early at the corner of West 22^nd Place and South Hoyne to set up her booth for the El Grito Festival at St. Paul’s Church in Pilsen. But she was the only one.

“Really bad, there’s no street vendors. Last year was really packed with street vendors. They’re scared,” Arias said.

The festival, typically held at Grant Park, was postponed this year due to increasing raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, but community organizers still wanted to hold something smaller to celebrate Mexico’s independence.

“We concluded that minimizing was the best option as opposed to cancelling,” Teresa Fraga said.

El Grito, which translates to “the cry” or “the scream” in English, historically has marked the start of Mexico’s war for independence and usually draws more than 24,000 people for the Chicago celebration.

Organizers floated the idea of holding the festival virtually or inside a warehouse, but the decision was made to have the event outdoors in front of the church with food, music and a re-enactment of El Grito.

“This has been a tradition. Why should it be killed because ICE is running around trying to terrify people?” Mary Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez was born in the United States. Her father came to the states from Mexico when he was just 15 years old and raised her and 10 other siblings while working in a steel mill.

All these years later, she understands the tensions and fear in her community.

“People who are here legally hear stories of U.S. citizens being arrested and detained for three or four days, or even two weeks,” Gonzalez said.

The El Grito 5K was held Sunday morning as scheduled. It’s become a tradition the morning of Little Village’s Mexican Independence Day Parade.

“We are standing here for you. Don’t come if you don’t feel safe, but we do call on all of you that feel that this is your country, that you’ve been here long enough and you’ve contributed and you’re not afraid, come stand for those who can’t,” Fraga said.

The El Grito Festival ran for four hours Monday night and had a large turnout. WGN did not see any ICE activity in the area.