This year’s Mexican Independence Day Parade in Little Village was more than a celebration. It was a declaration of culture and spirit, of perseverance and persistence, of resistance and resilience. As thousands filled our beloved 26th Street, Chicago and Illinois bore witness to the unshakable pride and power of a community that has long carried the city forward.
Little Village is no stranger to adversity. In the shadow of threats from Washington and with the looming presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, many communities are understandably choosing caution and care. In Little Village, we stood tall. Families, workers, youths, children and elders came together in the ways that felt right and safe for them, waving flags and filling the streets with music, color and joy.
The parade wasn’t a crowd; it was a coalition. Residents, immigrant and refugee communities, allies, elected officials, businesses, labor and nonprofits stood as partners, not guests but co-builders, proving our strength comes from showing up for one another and a shared vision defined not by fear but by mutual care, empowerment, wellness, resilience, human rights and peace — built block by block.
Enlace Chicago and partners used the opportunity to share “know your rights” resources and $2,000 in community support.
The moment recalls the large-scale deportation drives of the 1940s and 1950s — such as the “Operation Wetback” in 1954, when more than 1 million people of Mexican descent, including many U.S. citizens, were forcibly removed or harassed. Then, as now, communities found strength in unity, and allies stood alongside them; they organized, supported one another and ultimately endured. We will too!
When federal policy turned hostile, immigrant communities organized mutual aid, built institutions and pressed for rights, helping win reforms from the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Every era of fear has sparked a new movement for justice and inclusion.
That same spirit pulsed through Little Village on parade day. Music and dance were not simply entertainment; they were acts of defiance and hope. Children on parents’ shoulders waved flags not only for Mexico but also for the shared dream of dignity and belonging. Elders who had weathered decades of anti-immigrant rhetoric smiled and chanted with pride. The presence of allies showed that solidarity across cultures is not just possible; it is also powerful.
This is no small feat. History reminds us that the power of immigrant communities has shaped this city and this nation. Immigrants represent 20% of the city and contribute over $17 billion in taxes statewide each year. Little Village is both a major economic engine and the cultural heartbeat of Chicago; when it thrives, the whole city thrives.
The message from this year’s parade was clear: We are here. We belong. We contribute. And we will continue to resist injustice while celebrating life, heritage and community.
In a time when division is sown from the highest offices in the land, Little Village offered a vision of unity. In a time when communities are under siege, Little Village danced, marched and sang for freedom. In a time when fear is wielded as a weapon, Little Village reminded us that love, culture and perseverance are stronger.
The parade was not just a celebration of Mexican Independence — it also was a celebration of the spirit of Little Village and of all immigrant communities that refuse to be silenced. It was a reminder that resilience is beautiful and that resistance, when fueled by culture and community, is unstoppable.
Chicago — and the nation — should take note: Little Village is worth celebrating. Always.
Marcela E. Rodriguez is the co-executive director of Enlace Chicago.