Chicago officials and law enforcement are hoping to prevent the chaos of recent Mexican Independence Day celebrations that saw police and citizens assaulted, gun crime arrests, vandalism and emergency responders crippled by revelers.
Officials are expecting nearly a half-million revelers this weekend during the annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day, commemorating the end of Spanish rule in September of 1821, and parade in Chicago’s Little Village. The official day of celebration is set for Monday, September 16.
Last year, police made 86 arrests – the majority on gun charges for unlawful use of a weapon – as officers were assaulted, one nearly losing part of his ear. Most of the arrests were for disorderly conduct.
One 46 year-old man has been charged with felony aggravated assault of a police officer. Other participants threw bottles at police officers.
“I’m Mexican. ... [But] any organized effort that just destroys public property and attacks our police officers is just wrong, and until more elected officials call it for what it is, we will continue to see more of it,” one City Council member warned in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times.
Caravans of people waving Mexican flags crippled traffic and paralyzed emergency responders trying to get to citizens in need of help.
In other areas, celebrators in vehicles threatened public safety by holding drag races and “doing doughnuts” in the streets. Participants also defaced local businesses with “vile graffiti.”
Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications has issued an alert to the public in anticipation of Friday night’s start of the celebrations. The alert says the Chicago Police Department “will be visible and present to ensure safe celebrations” and will enforce traffic regulations, “especially in instances of illegal obstruction, stopping, parking, and/or interference of traffic.”
Officials also say they’re prepared to close additional roads and institute checkpoints, if necessary.
EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Commissioner Juan Hernandez with the Chicago Fire Department has posted a YouTube video urging citizens, in both Spanish and English, to allow emergency responders pass and to celebrate safely and responsibly.
In another part of the city, a festival celebrating the beginning of Mexico’s fight for freedom, has returned, providing what organizers call a “safe and vibrant” alternative to the problem-plagued downtown festival, local station WBEZ reports:
“Organizers say the two-day El Grito Fest, which runs Saturday and Sunday, should provide a ‘safe and vibrant’ alternative to ad hoc celebrations that previously ended in gridlock and arrests.”
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“El Grito or ‘El Grito de Independencia,’ ‘The Cry of Independence,’ is a traditional ceremony that pays homage to the celebration in Mexico that honors the speech given by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on September 16, 1810. The speech marked the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence and the fight for freedom from the Spanish.”
Safety measures will include private security staff, K-9 teams, and bag checks, Chicago’s ABC 7 affiliate reports, noting that the El Grito festival will be significantly smaller than the Mexican Independence Day celebration downtown.