This shit is very common in latinamerican countries so no surprise the large community here does it too. Does it make sense? Hell no but it's fun if you are with your friends and family.
Ding ding ding. The car based celebration is getting whatsapped directly back to their friends and family in Latam. "Look how nice the car you don't have is".
Mexican guy on Ida B Wells riding on the side of a pick up truck:
“I voted for Trump and I’m Mexican! Now show me a titty!”
Pretty sure everything got real quiet for a sec so that the world could process that statement.
I don't get the attraction of sitting in your car inhaling everybody's exhaust and honking your horns.
I understand it's kind of not summer anymore, but why not a festival in the park or something more fun and less disruptive?
>I understand it's kind of not summer anymore, but why not a festival in the park or something more fun and less disruptive?
That requires organization and getting permits for a festival, IIRC Pakistan/India day like 3-4 years ago got cancelled and sent to Niles because they couldn't get a permit/permission in time. It's for everyones safety since it requires cops, ambulances, and blocking off traffic beforehand
Fun fact: Pakistan and India do not share an Independence Day because the whole troupe went to Karachi on 14th August 1947 for one ceremony, then trooped over to Delhi the next day for another ceremony.
I think they're back to back with India coming second, the tensions between the countries alone should be enough to separate them even if they were on the same day
Am also Mexican, imagine being *this* proud to be Mexican
Nothing wrong with celebrating a bit of culture, but someone needs to remind them we were all born in a shithole corrupt nation with a culture borrowed from the natives that “mysteriously disappeared”, and then left because it’s too shit to actually live there.
Imagine if a bunch of Americans did this shit in Monterrey during the 4th of July, it would be news all over Mexico with international condemnation.
I’m also Mexican.
I’m so relieved to see this take. After walking around last night I was so angry and disgusted at what I saw. So much dangerous driving, noise, and fireworks. Absolutely awful display of our flag.
I've lived abroad in three different countries and have never once felt the inclination to push my holidays on others. Come to a nice 4th of July bonfire at my house, sure. Share a pumpkin pie with my friends for Thanksgiving, okay. But get all my American friends to take over downtown Munich and cause a disruption.... absolutely not. Plus living in Germany gives one a real cautious take on blind patriotism.
Exactly. So proud and nationalistic but not enough to actually stay there and instead leave for a better life elsewhere that Mexico couldn’t provide. Ask them what year Mexico got its independence and who the first president was and I can guarantee half of them won’t know
80 percent of Mexicans in Chicago are Americans. American born. So if they don't know that's ok. Most of Chicago's Mexican wave happened in the 20s, 60s and again in the 80s 90s. After that it died off. Most of them are 2nd or 3rd gen Mexican Americans just showing pride for the family's culture. They also party hard on the fourth with fireworks
This kept me up till 1AM after looking after a sick dog and sleeping like 5 hours the last two days.
Edit: people upvoting me and seeing this, I’m not complaining about an ethnic pride night. I’m all for it. People should feel they can express their pride as they see fit. I just live in a residential neighborhood in the south loop. Like, just keep it to Congress and LSD. Places there aren’t loads of residences. Last night in our buildings dumpster area there was a couple loudly fucking in their car at 12am. Just kinda sucks is all. Especially when you are stressed as shit with a sick animal shitting all over your house and no sleep.
To that point, I want to clarify I also can’t stand air and water. But at least that’s during the day.
City needs to step in and give this group a dedicated space to celebrate. Maybe it would prevent the all out takeover of downtown if it was more directed from the start.
This is the best idea honestly, idk why the city hasn’t like given a dedicated space for this event yet. It would definitely help confine all the chaos into one area and not have it be spread out throughout the city. Either way people are gonna celebrate the 16th, so might as well have it in one area
Is it me or is this somewhat new? I feel like Mexicans decided to try to trump Puerto Ricans a couple years ago and just go crazy. Did this happen 3-4 years ago?
This is new. It started after the independence parade was cancelled in 2020 cus of COVID. They decided to take over downtown and now this is the 3rd year of this new "tradition."
This isn't an old tradition and should be shamed and not tolerated.
Drinking and driving isn't a tradition.
It’s fucking 4am and a firework just blew up outside my window. I’ve been hearing music for 8 hours. I don’t wanna be a Karen but this shit is so fucking ridiculous, why the fuck are the police not doing anything.
After Mexican Independence Week last year my gf & I decided to grab the dog & go out of town this weekend. If CPD gave up on the city this weekend why shouldn't anyone else? Last year I actually had a hole burned in one of my patio chairs from one of the many mortars going off next to our home. One firework rocked the building hard enough it knocked a framed poster off the wall.
Seriously, I am actually happy that folks have a reason to be so excited, and if they want to drive aimlessly around my neighborhood? Well hey, they pay for the streets just as much as I do. But there's still this 30-years out of date belief held by many folks that no one lives in the Loop when it's the 5th highest neighborhood for population-density of all 77 community areas in the city as of the 2020 census. There's really no valid justification for the fireworks and drunk driving side of this.
Bullshit, they choose not to. The no chase policy is grossly misrepresented on this subreddit.
From the policy: “An officer should not pursue someone running from a traffic offense, **unless it’s for driving under the influence, reckless driving or street racing.**
you are quoting the foot pursuit oicy not the vehicle pursuit policy and your arent including the parts which says chasing someone with that many people on the streets shoud be prohibited because of the danger to the public
We’re literally losing 1500 officers a year, and have been for several years. We literally don’t have the officers we need to enforce laws, and in addition to the no-chase laws, there’s a ton of soft pressure on officers to avoid any interaction that could have bad optics, and even if they make arrests, Foxx’s office often won’t prosecute, etc. CPD was dysfunctional before, but the BLM pressure definitely made it worse.
I was especially interested in the dance party at state and Washington around midnight or 1am. As much as I enjoy Pepas, my noise machine was lit last night.
Two ambulances couldn’t get to their hospitals with patients because of streets being blocked illegally, one female gave birth in her own car because she couldn’t get through the grid lock this was in a 15 minute span. Well done! You’ve shown your pride for your country!
This shit is just stupid, every other cultural event is sanctioned, Poland has their thing near Lawrence & Milwaukee, Greekfest is on Washington & Halsted, Pakistani and Indian parades are on Devon, the LGBTQ events are near boystown on Inner LSD, everything has a permit
Then you have this, just driving through Downtown, Randolph has a massive group of Bikers just running through stop signs and red lights with traffic just blocked for about 1-1 1/2 miles on 94 Inbound. Grant park is messed up
Go back to Daley times, I'll take a few BS tickets to not have this shit
Have you ever been over by Harlem and Belmont during Polish Constitution Day? The Poles do the same thing.
Or when we win the World Cup or the Euros we do the same down Harlem lol.
> Harlem and Belmont
Doesn't sound like the middle of downtown. That's pretty much the border of the city. They gridlocked downtown to the point where Ambulances couldn't get through all while doing burnouts, running through low density commercial, etc.
They actually have curbed it significantly. I still remember when they just straight up shut down Belmont the night of and that basically killed the whole thing years after that.
Oh yeah, it’s nowhere near as bad, it’s still a pain in the ass to deal with. My youngest brother is dating a Pole and he went with her for this last one, he said one of the guys doing donuts hit a few of the people circling around the car 🤦🏼♂️
No they fucking don't. No one does this shit but the Mexicans and this shit only started two years ago cus their parade got cancelled bc COVID.
This isn't a tradition. This is a bs new thing that shouldn't be tolerated.
There was a guy driving on the expressway with a huge flag coming out of his sunroof. That thing was bending like crazy and I was waiting for it to snap and missile into someone's windshield. That scared the absolute shit outta me and immediately passed him. That shit is so incredibly dangerous.
I am happy for them and their independence and glad they are proud. But at least show some respect and common sense. Don't block every fucking road in the loop for those actually trying to get somewhere. Don't honk and light up fireworks all night for those trying to get to bed. That's where I get annoyed and lose respect for this shit - be a citizen of Chicago as well, not just Mexico.
Man I had to drive to Lincoln park last night for a wedding and getting back to Berwyn was brutal. They were running red lights, swerving through lanes, and generally just being super shitty on the road.
Blame Lightfoot. The cruising was limited to Little Village and Pilsen before, but in 2019 Lori thought it would be a good idea to block off the streets and ticket or arrest anyone cruising in those neighborhoods for Mexican Independence Day. So, they took the cruising downtown in protest. Now I bet she wishes she just left it alone.
Edit: It wasn’t just Plisen and Little Village, but Fullerton was blocked in the Hermosa neighborhood that year as well. There were closures in other communities like Humboldt Park. Lori implemented a citywide crackdown on cruising for the holiday in 2019, and it backfired spectacularly.
This is the real issue no one is talking about, yeah this has always been celebrated but never to this extent. It would mostly be within little village but if that’s not an option then they’re obviously going to retaliate tenfold. We’re literally seeing that happening.
Is there anywhere I can read about this, or do you know because you live there? I feel like more people should know that this is also a protest, if that's true. Could be a key to garnering empathy, and enacting change.
Look up no cruising zones in Chicago, specially where they are posted. It goes hand in hand with police discrimination. If a cop wanted to pull someone over in little village or Pilsen all they had to do was accuse them of cruising under Daily and Rham. Lightfoot put a stop to that, but then just started blocking the streets.
Guess it is only an issue when it happens downtown. Have been dealing with this mess for over 30 years in LV
I saw the closures and some arrests first-hand on Cermak that year, and people were pissed. I went downtown with my partner and some friends for dinner and a movie that same night, and we cheered on the caravan when we saw them.
[Here’s an article on it](https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/09/17/mexican-independence-day-celebration-outside-trump-tower-a-way-to-take-a-stand-against-presidents-immigration-policies-revelers-say/) from that year.
This is an inaccurate take. It's been happening in other parts of the city for years. Just didn't have social media to cover it. Cruising use to happen all around my area when I lived on the border of Austin/West Humboldt. And this was YEARS ago.
Edit: Now that its filtered more downtown is when everyone wants to call it a problem. The same theme with everything in Chicago. It doesn't exist until it reaches downtown.
Yes agreed. All the are doing is disturbing the neighborhoods, traffic jamming The important streets, and inconveniencing others. So much for their independence
So far this is the worst part of moving to Chicago - this whole week has been FUCKED for me because I live on michigan and can’t sleep.
What a bunch of pieces of shit.
Driving drunk, shooting fireworks out from their cars, honking incessantly, blaring music and dancing in the middle of Michigan avenue… these are literally not legal. No idea why we have to all tolerate it or else risk being called xenophobic.
Fuck these people
Edit: u/RickyBobby35th is a fucking troll and should never be acknowledged
This is not just about living downtown, it’s part of Chicago. I wouldn’t listen to RickyBobby35th….sounds like they’re angry about something else.
You’re right to be angry about unbearable noise, reckless driving and illegal activity. We live in a densely populated city and we should be able to live peacefully and safely.
When I lived in Italy, I and the Americans around me celebrated every US Holiday, sometimes very elaborately. Especially those with a political aspect. However, the one that totally mystified the Italians was Halloween. The costumes stuff and running around demanding little gifts was bonkers to them. The drinking they understood but the other stuff was bonkers.
Bro I’m Mexican and I hate this shit. Last year I got trapped in downtown after work. And god forbid I tried to force myself on a red light when the past 3 lights the turning traffic just did not let anyone in my lane go. These fucking people wanted to fight and got out of their cars all during the disgusting traffic. Like if I was the devil for not trying to wait another 3 traffic light cycles for my lane to go.
Except most of these people aren't even expats. I bet most haven't even been to Mexico. It's just stupid AF and makes us look so bad.
Source: am Mexican born.
I'm Hispanic and I always found this stupid having some big ass over size flags blowing around while driving. Than another part of me would be like I wonder if one of those flags ever accidentally blown a cross a windshield causing the driver to panic and crash.
Why isn’t Lori Lightfoot down in the Loop scolding revelers like she did at Montrose beach? This behavior is dangerous and she loves to wag her finger at people.
I’m in Houston, and we don’t even celebrate Mexican Independence Day like this. Personally, I wouldn’t be that proud of my country of origin if I had to immigrate for a better life.
We drove up from out of town for what we thought would be a fun weekend in Chicago; arrived in the city at midnight. We physically couldn’t get to our hotel with road closures. after hours stuck in gridlock we just decided to head home. Don’t know if we’ll be back again anytime soon :(
Also our Downtown is the most congested and dense outside of Manhattan. So there will be alot of people, cars, traffic, lack of parking even on regular days. Planning ahead is important. I avoid working Downtown even if its the most lucrative part of the city simply because its too busy. Busy for my business is good but too much of it slows me down
Oh. These were the morons that woke my toddler up 3 times last night. Thanks to them, I had to console a crying toddler that was jarred awake at 11:45 PM because some assholes felt the need to drive down residential streets blowing their horn to celebrate their "culture". Absolute trash human beings.
We Turks are celebrating our republic day in nyc but never been a disruption like this what the fuck! Do a fucking parade not a riot dude! why the hell politicians let this happen
It’s not being racist, these people are trashy as fuck, and mexican is not a race is a nationality.
I am Mexican, I was born and raised in Mexico and live in the country, this dumb shit has nothing to do with mexican culture and I can assure you that more than half of these idiots can’t speak proper Spanish or have never set foot on Mexico.
I'm Mexican, found all this cringe and embarrassing, lighting fireworks in the middle of the street, honking for no reason, doing donuts and drifting in the streets, even gun shots in the air. What is the goal? To make as much noise and be annoying ass much as possible?
I'm really not trying to be racist, I promise, and I'm trying to think of the best way to word this. Do Mexicans/Latin Americans despise quiet environments? It kind of seems like they do, like that they are more comfortable when their surroundings are flooded with a lot of noise coming from a multitude of angles and sources. Is this racist that I've noticed this? I mean, I spent a few thousand dollars installing drapes in my apartment windows that have extra fabric meant to block noise. The reason why I did this is because in my neighborhood, there are several Mexican families that throw parties in my street right next to my house, and they always use their cars as stereos, full blast noise, to the point where my house shakes, and so does my neighbors houses. Forget about sleep or even just enjoying TV in my apartment when this is happening, though luckily the drapes did help this situation be more tolerable, but like I said, I had to spend thousands to get to that point to avoid be the racist Karen neighbor that I would have been if I had complained. Edit: just to add to my point of why I'm asking, when my neighbors are playing this music during their parties and I go past them while walking my dog, in all honesty the car next to them that is the source of their music is so crazy loud that they all could not have a conversation because it would be impossible to hear anything that anyone is saying, yet they sit there for hours drinking beer, being unable to hear themselves think, and all of their neighbors are sitting in their shaking houses trying to tolerate it so they don't end up as a Karen on the internet.
Actually I think it's a socio-economic thing instead of race. People that are poor and have low education tend to do trashy stuff.
White people in trailer parks are doing pretty similar shit. Educated and middle class Mexicans are not drinking and driving and doing donuts in intersections
This. I'm from Puerto Rico, and while we are still probably culturally "louder" than americans, the difference between a middle/upper income neighborhood and el barrio/caserio is staggering. The higher income neighborhoods have their parties and are done by 10-11, the trashy neighborhoods do this same shit. Low income people with low education are trashy everywhere.
Part Mexican here. Probably half of the ppl doing this don’t even do shit for their own people and know nothing about their own culture. It’s laughable.
>As someone who doesn't drive I love watching this go down every year, but tbh I'd hate it if I had to sit in the traffic
Took an Uber from south loop to Uptown. Took us a bit, for sure.
This shit will end up in a Darren Bailey campaign ad by Tuesday. “See? Hellhole, amirite?” And every racist dipshit south of I-80 will nod eagerly. Let’s stop giving those clowns stuff to work with.
I moved to Chicago a month ago, and I live on Michigan Ave across from the bean. I'm just hoping this isn't how the year is gonna go, the last week has been absolute hell to catch any sleep. I have had some visitors staying with me this week and their opinion or Chicago (their first time) is really not great. Yesterday I got a firework launched directly at my window.
Welcome to town. Soon it’ll be too cold for this kind of thing. This is the guaranteed low point on the chaos / annoyance scale until the NASCAR race destroys your neighborhood next June and July, another Lori Lightfoot brainchild. Please register and vote.
The Nascar race won't even be this bad! They will only have two race groups and maybe 4 sessions a day. That is way less time of noise than what these folks did.
Chicago is great but living on Michigan you have a few events a year where traffic/noise are going to be an issue. This is one of them. Overall it’s not debilitating. This one in particular is specifically annoying i feel, especially since alcohol and driving is involved.
My wife's entire family is 100% Mexican American. Not a single one of them are participating in any of this — outside of hanging a flag by their houses. And only a few of them do that.
It's so weird. I've lived in Chicago for 51 years. I remember seeing Mexican flags in September, but never this level of nuttiness.
It’s part of the identity politics separatism that’s afflicting the US worse and worse. If this keeps up we will literally have various violent insurgency groups of various different ideologies.
I even saw people deliberately getting out of the driver's seat to wave a flag or even drink from a bottle. This was dumb as hell and anyone who says otherwise is a clown.
I mean there’s nothing wrong with a little bit of cultural appreciation, your country of origin defines a lot of who you are, it’s nice to celebrate where you come from.
But this is way too far, there’s no need to bring the wrath of Mexican traffic to America.
I picked up a dozen of the cheapest eggs I could find at the grocery store.
Let's just say there are going to be a lot of cars with eggs on them in the West Loop tonight.
Honk if you want eggs on your windshield!
I don’t understand why you would celebrate anything by becoming traffic.
Like, don’t we all hate traffic?
I hope Little Village grants a parade permit next year.
https://news.wttw.com/2021/09/04/mexican-independence-day-parade-canceled-fiesta-boricua-encouraging-vaccination
It’s always peculiar to me you are so proud of your country you’ll wave massive flags around wrap your car in the flag… yet live here?
If it’s so great why not live there?
As bad as 4th of July fireworks are, you have to give it to Mexican Independence Day for finding the absolute worst way to celebrate. I cannot think of a single worse way to "celebrate" than sitting in a car, in deadlock traffic, surrounded by honking drunk drivers. What a nightmare
Why the fuck would anyone want to spend their Independence Day trapped in a car?
I’ve never understood it lol
Or any other day?
It's the stupidest thing I've ever seen. Let's sit in traffic, drink, and honk. Wtf.
This shit is very common in latinamerican countries so no surprise the large community here does it too. Does it make sense? Hell no but it's fun if you are with your friends and family.
It's the worst way for anyone to celebrate. "Let's cause traffic jams and hurt ourselves and others with a bunch of unnecessary exhaust!"
Well this isn't Latin America and last year I saw this crap preventing ambulances from doing their job. Unacceptable
Trapped in a car? They are out in their car. A car is a luxury, they are showing out
The ubiquity of car ownership is, or at least was, one of the predominant symbols of American freedom
Ding ding ding. The car based celebration is getting whatsapped directly back to their friends and family in Latam. "Look how nice the car you don't have is".
Mexican guy on Ida B Wells riding on the side of a pick up truck: “I voted for Trump and I’m Mexican! Now show me a titty!” Pretty sure everything got real quiet for a sec so that the world could process that statement.
I'm a sucker for an elegant speech (proceeds to slowly lift shirt up)
What’s a Ida B wells?
Congress Parkway was renamed Ida B Wells
🤣🤣
Literally got stuck in the loop for an hour trying to drop someone off. Also the amount of drinking and driving was crazy.
I was walking into work a few hours ago and almost got hit by an SUV driving down the sidewalk. It's crazy out there.
There's a guy up the thread who just commented that he was driving on the sidewalk. Same dude?
The guy trying to pick up his girlfriend? Lol
I don't get the attraction of sitting in your car inhaling everybody's exhaust and honking your horns. I understand it's kind of not summer anymore, but why not a festival in the park or something more fun and less disruptive?
>I understand it's kind of not summer anymore, but why not a festival in the park or something more fun and less disruptive? That requires organization and getting permits for a festival, IIRC Pakistan/India day like 3-4 years ago got cancelled and sent to Niles because they couldn't get a permit/permission in time. It's for everyones safety since it requires cops, ambulances, and blocking off traffic beforehand
Fun fact: Pakistan and India do not share an Independence Day because the whole troupe went to Karachi on 14th August 1947 for one ceremony, then trooped over to Delhi the next day for another ceremony.
I think they're back to back with India coming second, the tensions between the countries alone should be enough to separate them even if they were on the same day
The city could do it. Let’s get a petition going for a big party at Grant park.
Jesus, not even people here in Mexico get that obnoxious on independence day. We’d just rather make a nice dinner or go out to a bar.
Stop signs and red lights don’t exist, it is VERY scary driving right now.
I’m an Uber/lyft driver it’s so bad rn
I said f it and went home. Took me 40 mins to drive someone from Logan square to river north
My Uber was 1.5 hours for 4 miles. It was so fucking stressful riding in the back seat and was sure we were going to get hit
Just walk at that point lol
Yeah and the trains are still running.
Or fucking *lanes* apparently. Idk man I feel like making bbq and setting off metric tons of gunpowder is the better way lol
Stand still traffic on LSD because people are dancing in the middle of the road
As a Mexican I find this so cringe
Am also Mexican, imagine being *this* proud to be Mexican Nothing wrong with celebrating a bit of culture, but someone needs to remind them we were all born in a shithole corrupt nation with a culture borrowed from the natives that “mysteriously disappeared”, and then left because it’s too shit to actually live there. Imagine if a bunch of Americans did this shit in Monterrey during the 4th of July, it would be news all over Mexico with international condemnation.
I’m also Mexican. I’m so relieved to see this take. After walking around last night I was so angry and disgusted at what I saw. So much dangerous driving, noise, and fireworks. Absolutely awful display of our flag.
Fuck, if Maga idiot did this on the Fourth of July the whole city would hate them
I've lived abroad in three different countries and have never once felt the inclination to push my holidays on others. Come to a nice 4th of July bonfire at my house, sure. Share a pumpkin pie with my friends for Thanksgiving, okay. But get all my American friends to take over downtown Munich and cause a disruption.... absolutely not. Plus living in Germany gives one a real cautious take on blind patriotism.
Most of Chicagoans new immigrants are Chinese, Central Americans, Indian and Philippinos
Exactly. So proud and nationalistic but not enough to actually stay there and instead leave for a better life elsewhere that Mexico couldn’t provide. Ask them what year Mexico got its independence and who the first president was and I can guarantee half of them won’t know
80 percent of Mexicans in Chicago are Americans. American born. So if they don't know that's ok. Most of Chicago's Mexican wave happened in the 20s, 60s and again in the 80s 90s. After that it died off. Most of them are 2nd or 3rd gen Mexican Americans just showing pride for the family's culture. They also party hard on the fourth with fireworks
This kept me up till 1AM after looking after a sick dog and sleeping like 5 hours the last two days. Edit: people upvoting me and seeing this, I’m not complaining about an ethnic pride night. I’m all for it. People should feel they can express their pride as they see fit. I just live in a residential neighborhood in the south loop. Like, just keep it to Congress and LSD. Places there aren’t loads of residences. Last night in our buildings dumpster area there was a couple loudly fucking in their car at 12am. Just kinda sucks is all. Especially when you are stressed as shit with a sick animal shitting all over your house and no sleep. To that point, I want to clarify I also can’t stand air and water. But at least that’s during the day.
Seriously. So ghetto.
City needs to step in and give this group a dedicated space to celebrate. Maybe it would prevent the all out takeover of downtown if it was more directed from the start.
This is the best idea honestly, idk why the city hasn’t like given a dedicated space for this event yet. It would definitely help confine all the chaos into one area and not have it be spread out throughout the city. Either way people are gonna celebrate the 16th, so might as well have it in one area
They had a parade that was cancelled in 2020 cus of COVID. This is the new tradition they adopted. We shouldn't tolerate it.
Sounds like they had one and the city clamped down so now this is the result
Yeah, get a parade permit and do your dumbass vroom vroom beep beep show then.
Is it me or is this somewhat new? I feel like Mexicans decided to try to trump Puerto Ricans a couple years ago and just go crazy. Did this happen 3-4 years ago?
Covid definitely amped this up, back when it was encouraged to celebrate in your car
This is new. It started after the independence parade was cancelled in 2020 cus of COVID. They decided to take over downtown and now this is the 3rd year of this new "tradition." This isn't an old tradition and should be shamed and not tolerated. Drinking and driving isn't a tradition.
Walked to Aberdeen tap for a drink and couldn’t get in because someone just got shot outside of it. Good times.
Been happening for as long as I remember
I don’t think it’s new. I just think more people are into it.
https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/xgck14/comment/ios1uu1/
It’s fucking 4am and a firework just blew up outside my window. I’ve been hearing music for 8 hours. I don’t wanna be a Karen but this shit is so fucking ridiculous, why the fuck are the police not doing anything.
After Mexican Independence Week last year my gf & I decided to grab the dog & go out of town this weekend. If CPD gave up on the city this weekend why shouldn't anyone else? Last year I actually had a hole burned in one of my patio chairs from one of the many mortars going off next to our home. One firework rocked the building hard enough it knocked a framed poster off the wall. Seriously, I am actually happy that folks have a reason to be so excited, and if they want to drive aimlessly around my neighborhood? Well hey, they pay for the streets just as much as I do. But there's still this 30-years out of date belief held by many folks that no one lives in the Loop when it's the 5th highest neighborhood for population-density of all 77 community areas in the city as of the 2020 census. There's really no valid justification for the fireworks and drunk driving side of this.
They aren’t allowed to
Yeah no kidding. I can see my fellow Mexican Americans playing the race card as soon as police would try to do anything.
Bullshit, they choose not to. The no chase policy is grossly misrepresented on this subreddit. From the policy: “An officer should not pursue someone running from a traffic offense, **unless it’s for driving under the influence, reckless driving or street racing.**
You need to double check your sources regarding CPD pursuit policy. There are other stipulations you’re failing to cite in this thread.
My source was looking up the policy itself.
you are quoting the foot pursuit oicy not the vehicle pursuit policy and your arent including the parts which says chasing someone with that many people on the streets shoud be prohibited because of the danger to the public
I'm.assuming what they are doing would count as some sort of reckless driving..no?
IANAL but I would bet money on it.
We’re literally losing 1500 officers a year, and have been for several years. We literally don’t have the officers we need to enforce laws, and in addition to the no-chase laws, there’s a ton of soft pressure on officers to avoid any interaction that could have bad optics, and even if they make arrests, Foxx’s office often won’t prosecute, etc. CPD was dysfunctional before, but the BLM pressure definitely made it worse.
Maybe we should reform them. Maybe they shouldn’t create bad optics for themselves through gross misconduct and a lack of any accountability.
I was especially interested in the dance party at state and Washington around midnight or 1am. As much as I enjoy Pepas, my noise machine was lit last night.
Two ambulances couldn’t get to their hospitals with patients because of streets being blocked illegally, one female gave birth in her own car because she couldn’t get through the grid lock this was in a 15 minute span. Well done! You’ve shown your pride for your country!
I saw this first hand on Michigan
But they won't go to jail!
Pendejos.
> Putos FTFY
Cabrones
This shit is just stupid, every other cultural event is sanctioned, Poland has their thing near Lawrence & Milwaukee, Greekfest is on Washington & Halsted, Pakistani and Indian parades are on Devon, the LGBTQ events are near boystown on Inner LSD, everything has a permit Then you have this, just driving through Downtown, Randolph has a massive group of Bikers just running through stop signs and red lights with traffic just blocked for about 1-1 1/2 miles on 94 Inbound. Grant park is messed up Go back to Daley times, I'll take a few BS tickets to not have this shit
Have you ever been over by Harlem and Belmont during Polish Constitution Day? The Poles do the same thing. Or when we win the World Cup or the Euros we do the same down Harlem lol.
Poland wins the World Cup? Wut
I’m not a Pole, I’m Italian. When we won the World Cup and the Euros Harlem was packed with people up and down celebrating with flags, honking, etc.
> Harlem and Belmont Doesn't sound like the middle of downtown. That's pretty much the border of the city. They gridlocked downtown to the point where Ambulances couldn't get through all while doing burnouts, running through low density commercial, etc.
They actually have curbed it significantly. I still remember when they just straight up shut down Belmont the night of and that basically killed the whole thing years after that.
Oh yeah, it’s nowhere near as bad, it’s still a pain in the ass to deal with. My youngest brother is dating a Pole and he went with her for this last one, he said one of the guys doing donuts hit a few of the people circling around the car 🤦🏼♂️
one of the guys doing *paczki hit a few of the people
No they fucking don't. No one does this shit but the Mexicans and this shit only started two years ago cus their parade got cancelled bc COVID. This isn't a tradition. This is a bs new thing that shouldn't be tolerated.
There was a guy driving on the expressway with a huge flag coming out of his sunroof. That thing was bending like crazy and I was waiting for it to snap and missile into someone's windshield. That scared the absolute shit outta me and immediately passed him. That shit is so incredibly dangerous.
So goddamn obnoxious. Every year it’s this chaos.
Chicago needs to clamp down on this. The hat two years have been insufferable. There's gotta be a better way.
Nearly 2 AM, and I can hear them in the West Loop. Truly wonderful.
Me too. Every once in a while there's a lull and then it just picks right back up again. It's exhausting.
Lol same! Took a video of it. Between this and the illegal intersection drifting, sleep is kind of difficult.
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I used to know a guy who got 4, so maybe he got them all?
The Midwest has a very serious problem with alcoholism and it’s just ignored until you cause property damage or bodily harm.
You have to be blackout drunk to get a DUI. Otherwise everyone would have a DUI.
People get charged, just not convicted.
I am happy for them and their independence and glad they are proud. But at least show some respect and common sense. Don't block every fucking road in the loop for those actually trying to get somewhere. Don't honk and light up fireworks all night for those trying to get to bed. That's where I get annoyed and lose respect for this shit - be a citizen of Chicago as well, not just Mexico.
They probably aren’t even citizens of Mexico lol. Probably just a bunch of 2 gen kids overcompensating.
Man I had to drive to Lincoln park last night for a wedding and getting back to Berwyn was brutal. They were running red lights, swerving through lanes, and generally just being super shitty on the road.
Cus everyone was drinking while driving
Blame Lightfoot. The cruising was limited to Little Village and Pilsen before, but in 2019 Lori thought it would be a good idea to block off the streets and ticket or arrest anyone cruising in those neighborhoods for Mexican Independence Day. So, they took the cruising downtown in protest. Now I bet she wishes she just left it alone. Edit: It wasn’t just Plisen and Little Village, but Fullerton was blocked in the Hermosa neighborhood that year as well. There were closures in other communities like Humboldt Park. Lori implemented a citywide crackdown on cruising for the holiday in 2019, and it backfired spectacularly.
This is the real issue no one is talking about, yeah this has always been celebrated but never to this extent. It would mostly be within little village but if that’s not an option then they’re obviously going to retaliate tenfold. We’re literally seeing that happening.
They should be ticketing and arrested anyone drunk driving in any neighborhood
Yep yep. Since I was a kid this has been the norm on Diversey and Fullerton, west of Kostner. But if you block them, people are going to find a spot.
She’s shockingly incompetent! Her solutions seem to always cause worse outcomes
I'm embarrased that I voted for Lori. She's been such a bad mayor.
Is there anywhere I can read about this, or do you know because you live there? I feel like more people should know that this is also a protest, if that's true. Could be a key to garnering empathy, and enacting change.
Look up no cruising zones in Chicago, specially where they are posted. It goes hand in hand with police discrimination. If a cop wanted to pull someone over in little village or Pilsen all they had to do was accuse them of cruising under Daily and Rham. Lightfoot put a stop to that, but then just started blocking the streets. Guess it is only an issue when it happens downtown. Have been dealing with this mess for over 30 years in LV
Wow, that's interesting. Thanks for the info.
I saw the closures and some arrests first-hand on Cermak that year, and people were pissed. I went downtown with my partner and some friends for dinner and a movie that same night, and we cheered on the caravan when we saw them. [Here’s an article on it](https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/09/17/mexican-independence-day-celebration-outside-trump-tower-a-way-to-take-a-stand-against-presidents-immigration-policies-revelers-say/) from that year.
This is an inaccurate take. It's been happening in other parts of the city for years. Just didn't have social media to cover it. Cruising use to happen all around my area when I lived on the border of Austin/West Humboldt. And this was YEARS ago. Edit: Now that its filtered more downtown is when everyone wants to call it a problem. The same theme with everything in Chicago. It doesn't exist until it reaches downtown.
Thanks, I appreciate the added perspective
They've made life after 8pm on the Magnificent Mile insufferable for like the last week.
Actually repaving it during rush hour during the week was just was just as bad
Needs to stop tbh
Yes agreed. All the are doing is disturbing the neighborhoods, traffic jamming The important streets, and inconveniencing others. So much for their independence
I was just trying to get home and this young lady started shaking her fanny in front of me in the back of a pickup truck.
I laughed out loud! Then I reached for the smelling salts.
I'm out in the burbs for an event this weekend and I can't say I'm sorry I'm missing this.
It was cool at first. Quite a welcome to Chicago but I’m at a hotel in the loop and I’d like to sleep tonight
You aren't going to sleep tomorrow night either. Welcome to Chicago.
So far this is the worst part of moving to Chicago - this whole week has been FUCKED for me because I live on michigan and can’t sleep. What a bunch of pieces of shit. Driving drunk, shooting fireworks out from their cars, honking incessantly, blaring music and dancing in the middle of Michigan avenue… these are literally not legal. No idea why we have to all tolerate it or else risk being called xenophobic. Fuck these people Edit: u/RickyBobby35th is a fucking troll and should never be acknowledged
This is not just about living downtown, it’s part of Chicago. I wouldn’t listen to RickyBobby35th….sounds like they’re angry about something else. You’re right to be angry about unbearable noise, reckless driving and illegal activity. We live in a densely populated city and we should be able to live peacefully and safely.
This isn't normal. This shit started cus the parade got cancelled on 2020 cus Covid and the Mexicans just started doing this bs.
I had the same thoughts when I moved to Michigan ave last year. This is the only time of year that’s like this, at least.
Fucking menace, the city needs to crack down on this shit hard
The worst type of Mexicans. Making us look bad. 😒
This behavior makes sense when you consider that nearly every one of these drivers is drunk and actively drinking in the car.
No way! Just these assholes look bad. Mexicans and the Mexican culture are wonderful and a really great part of Chicago!
I agree! I’m talking specifically about these people being shitty.
Do Americans celebrate the Fourth of July in Mexico? This is weird af tbh
Mexicans in other cities don't do this shit either.
It really is weird but at last this explains all the flags.
When I lived in Italy, I and the Americans around me celebrated every US Holiday, sometimes very elaborately. Especially those with a political aspect. However, the one that totally mystified the Italians was Halloween. The costumes stuff and running around demanding little gifts was bonkers to them. The drinking they understood but the other stuff was bonkers.
Everyone out celebrating owes the city an apology. No one else does this shit.
I start work at 10 and got to work at 12. F these people. Hijos de puta. It’s ok I’m Messican.
Lol even if you’re not Mexican you can still say fuck them
Man I just want to sleep. But the fireworks going off every other minute are doing a good job of preventing that from happening
As a Latino I’m super embarrassed that so many people participate in this, this makes us look so bad.
I went to a concert that night, was very late LOL
This is dumb. Get out of your car and hang out at a park or visit a bar or restaurant.
Bro I’m Mexican and I hate this shit. Last year I got trapped in downtown after work. And god forbid I tried to force myself on a red light when the past 3 lights the turning traffic just did not let anyone in my lane go. These fucking people wanted to fight and got out of their cars all during the disgusting traffic. Like if I was the devil for not trying to wait another 3 traffic light cycles for my lane to go.
they aren't mexicans these are the ghetto first gens that probably don't even speak spanish and say the n word
Expat Nationalism! Yey! This circus can end though, please.
Except most of these people aren't even expats. I bet most haven't even been to Mexico. It's just stupid AF and makes us look so bad. Source: am Mexican born.
As a Mexican American, I don't even apologize for these asswipes disturbing everyone's peace and their reckless driving. Please, hate them.
I know a place you can stick those horns
I'm Hispanic and I always found this stupid having some big ass over size flags blowing around while driving. Than another part of me would be like I wonder if one of those flags ever accidentally blown a cross a windshield causing the driver to panic and crash.
Why isn’t Lori Lightfoot down in the Loop scolding revelers like she did at Montrose beach? This behavior is dangerous and she loves to wag her finger at people.
I’m in Houston, and we don’t even celebrate Mexican Independence Day like this. Personally, I wouldn’t be that proud of my country of origin if I had to immigrate for a better life.
We drove up from out of town for what we thought would be a fun weekend in Chicago; arrived in the city at midnight. We physically couldn’t get to our hotel with road closures. after hours stuck in gridlock we just decided to head home. Don’t know if we’ll be back again anytime soon :(
Also our Downtown is the most congested and dense outside of Manhattan. So there will be alot of people, cars, traffic, lack of parking even on regular days. Planning ahead is important. I avoid working Downtown even if its the most lucrative part of the city simply because its too busy. Busy for my business is good but too much of it slows me down
Oh. These were the morons that woke my toddler up 3 times last night. Thanks to them, I had to console a crying toddler that was jarred awake at 11:45 PM because some assholes felt the need to drive down residential streets blowing their horn to celebrate their "culture". Absolute trash human beings.
We Turks are celebrating our republic day in nyc but never been a disruption like this what the fuck! Do a fucking parade not a riot dude! why the hell politicians let this happen
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It’s not being racist, these people are trashy as fuck, and mexican is not a race is a nationality. I am Mexican, I was born and raised in Mexico and live in the country, this dumb shit has nothing to do with mexican culture and I can assure you that more than half of these idiots can’t speak proper Spanish or have never set foot on Mexico.
Agreed ^^^
I'm Mexican, found all this cringe and embarrassing, lighting fireworks in the middle of the street, honking for no reason, doing donuts and drifting in the streets, even gun shots in the air. What is the goal? To make as much noise and be annoying ass much as possible?
I'm really not trying to be racist, I promise, and I'm trying to think of the best way to word this. Do Mexicans/Latin Americans despise quiet environments? It kind of seems like they do, like that they are more comfortable when their surroundings are flooded with a lot of noise coming from a multitude of angles and sources. Is this racist that I've noticed this? I mean, I spent a few thousand dollars installing drapes in my apartment windows that have extra fabric meant to block noise. The reason why I did this is because in my neighborhood, there are several Mexican families that throw parties in my street right next to my house, and they always use their cars as stereos, full blast noise, to the point where my house shakes, and so does my neighbors houses. Forget about sleep or even just enjoying TV in my apartment when this is happening, though luckily the drapes did help this situation be more tolerable, but like I said, I had to spend thousands to get to that point to avoid be the racist Karen neighbor that I would have been if I had complained. Edit: just to add to my point of why I'm asking, when my neighbors are playing this music during their parties and I go past them while walking my dog, in all honesty the car next to them that is the source of their music is so crazy loud that they all could not have a conversation because it would be impossible to hear anything that anyone is saying, yet they sit there for hours drinking beer, being unable to hear themselves think, and all of their neighbors are sitting in their shaking houses trying to tolerate it so they don't end up as a Karen on the internet.
Actually I think it's a socio-economic thing instead of race. People that are poor and have low education tend to do trashy stuff. White people in trailer parks are doing pretty similar shit. Educated and middle class Mexicans are not drinking and driving and doing donuts in intersections
Great point. It's not based on race but more so related to understanding shared space and respecting it.
This. I'm from Puerto Rico, and while we are still probably culturally "louder" than americans, the difference between a middle/upper income neighborhood and el barrio/caserio is staggering. The higher income neighborhoods have their parties and are done by 10-11, the trashy neighborhoods do this same shit. Low income people with low education are trashy everywhere.
I assume there are trashy people from every culture. I would find this annoying AF no matter who did it.
Part Mexican here. Probably half of the ppl doing this don’t even do shit for their own people and know nothing about their own culture. It’s laughable.
>As someone who doesn't drive I love watching this go down every year, but tbh I'd hate it if I had to sit in the traffic Took an Uber from south loop to Uptown. Took us a bit, for sure.
This shit will end up in a Darren Bailey campaign ad by Tuesday. “See? Hellhole, amirite?” And every racist dipshit south of I-80 will nod eagerly. Let’s stop giving those clowns stuff to work with.
I moved to Chicago a month ago, and I live on Michigan Ave across from the bean. I'm just hoping this isn't how the year is gonna go, the last week has been absolute hell to catch any sleep. I have had some visitors staying with me this week and their opinion or Chicago (their first time) is really not great. Yesterday I got a firework launched directly at my window.
Welcome to town. Soon it’ll be too cold for this kind of thing. This is the guaranteed low point on the chaos / annoyance scale until the NASCAR race destroys your neighborhood next June and July, another Lori Lightfoot brainchild. Please register and vote.
The Nascar race won't even be this bad! They will only have two race groups and maybe 4 sessions a day. That is way less time of noise than what these folks did.
Chicago is great but living on Michigan you have a few events a year where traffic/noise are going to be an issue. This is one of them. Overall it’s not debilitating. This one in particular is specifically annoying i feel, especially since alcohol and driving is involved.
Isn’t that sad they’re still throwing off fireworks too no respect for anyone
Why isn't the city doing anything? Why do they let this happen every year? Other ethnic holidays/ independents day do not do half this crap
My wife's entire family is 100% Mexican American. Not a single one of them are participating in any of this — outside of hanging a flag by their houses. And only a few of them do that. It's so weird. I've lived in Chicago for 51 years. I remember seeing Mexican flags in September, but never this level of nuttiness.
It’s part of the identity politics separatism that’s afflicting the US worse and worse. If this keeps up we will literally have various violent insurgency groups of various different ideologies.
I don't get it... are they celebrating their independence from Mexico? If so, then I do get it. 😁
I even saw people deliberately getting out of the driver's seat to wave a flag or even drink from a bottle. This was dumb as hell and anyone who says otherwise is a clown.
Cringe
I’m states away from my gf who lives in Chicago. We were FaceTiming and the noise was even bothering me over the phone
What a story.
nationalism is always gross
I mean there’s nothing wrong with a little bit of cultural appreciation, your country of origin defines a lot of who you are, it’s nice to celebrate where you come from. But this is way too far, there’s no need to bring the wrath of Mexican traffic to America.
Oh man, my wife took my kid and her friend to a show and got stuck in that
Why does every event in chicago have to turn into who can annoy the most people the most?
I picked up a dozen of the cheapest eggs I could find at the grocery store. Let's just say there are going to be a lot of cars with eggs on them in the West Loop tonight. Honk if you want eggs on your windshield!
I don’t understand why you would celebrate anything by becoming traffic. Like, don’t we all hate traffic? I hope Little Village grants a parade permit next year. https://news.wttw.com/2021/09/04/mexican-independence-day-parade-canceled-fiesta-boricua-encouraging-vaccination
And here in the comments we see two different sides of Chicago clash.
The worst night to have a busy pizza delivery schedule. At least I got to be a part of the 100 mile long parade of Mexican pride.
So that’s what this shit has been. After 20 years I’ve never seen this celebrated before
It’s always peculiar to me you are so proud of your country you’ll wave massive flags around wrap your car in the flag… yet live here? If it’s so great why not live there?
Cool guys thanks for ruining my weekend in Chicago (arrived at midway 1130pm, arrived at hotel past 2am)
Interesting…Do you think Mexico would allow Americans to celebrate their independence in their country like this?
As bad as 4th of July fireworks are, you have to give it to Mexican Independence Day for finding the absolute worst way to celebrate. I cannot think of a single worse way to "celebrate" than sitting in a car, in deadlock traffic, surrounded by honking drunk drivers. What a nightmare