DOWNTOWN — A popular Mexican Independence Day festival scheduled for next weekend in Grant Park has been called off due to the threat of a large immigration enforcement operation in Chicago, organizers announced Thursday.

Organizers behind El Grito Chicago, set to take place Sept. 13-14 in Grant Park, said Thursday that they would be postponing this year’s event after discussing the situation with city and state officials. However, they did not provide a new date for the event.

“This was a painful decision; however, with the heightened political tensions and given our location in downtown Chicago, we need to keep our community safe,” said German Gonzalez, an organizer for El Grito Chicago, in a statement. “To proceed in spite of the advice we’ve received directly from city and state offi

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