CHICAGO (WLS) — The Cinco de Mayo Parade on Chicago’s Southwest Aspect was rerouted on Sunday after reviews of violence within the space.
The parade has a historical past of disruptions. From the COVID pandemic to a sequence of disagreements between organizers and metropolis officers, it wasn’t even held from 2018 to 2022. The parade solely made its return final 12 months.
There may be nonetheless quite a lot of confusion surrounding what precisely occurred to disrupt the parade.
“It is good to simply come and see all people simply be collectively and have a good time,” parade attendee Edith Ocampo mentioned.
At a look, Sunday’s Cinco de Mayo parade was like some other. It was vibrant and colourful, with entertaining musical acts representing completely different elements of Mexico.
“We truly discovered it simply strolling to the Nationwide Mexican Artwork museum earlier,” parade attendee Jennifer Vasquez mentioned. “We requested any person earlier. We weren’t even conscious it was occurring.”
What many parade-goers failed to note was the behind the scenes drama that started round a half hour earlier than the parade was purported to take off at Midday from Cermak Highway from Damen Avenue in Coronary heart of Chicago. It was purported to traverse a 1.2 mile route, ending at Marshall Boulevard in Little Village, simply south of Douglass Park. As a substitute, a big combat within the space of the parade led police to situation a cancelation discover.
“The Cinco de Mayo parade has been canceled to guard the protection of all in attendance, together with households and kids,” the discover learn. “The choice, was made by in settlement with CPD’s tenth District, elected officers and parade organizers.”
What truly seems to have occurred, based on twenty fifth Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez, is that the parade was rerouted to keep away from the police exercise. The Chicago Police Division assertion went out after the preliminary determination to cancel was reversed. The parade started late and the route was modified, working alongside Blue Island as a substitute of Damen, ending close to its initially meant spot.
“We need to ensure that we’re at all times on the aspect of security… initially there have been discussions round cancelling the parade, as a result of we had been truly going to undergo that location,” Sigcho-Lopez mentioned. “We noticed a phenomenal show of unity in our group. We’re glad to see the parade again. We have now to alter final minute the route, however we proceed to have a good time. We proceed to have a good time with none incident.”
The fights, seen within the space of Rockwell and Cermak, had been gang-related, the police assertion mentioned. A number of arrests had been made, together with gun arrests, police mentioned.
“We simply did not need to escalate the scenario,” Sigcho-Lopez mentioned. “The commander and violence prevention groups had been on website. They continued to be on website to ensure persons are secure. It is a phenomenal day and we need to make sure that individuals can have a good time.”
ABC7 requested Chicago police for clarification as to what occurred with the parade itself, however they declined to elaborate past their preliminary assertion.
An after occasion at an empty lot close to twenty fifth Avenue and Washtenaw went on as deliberate.
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