Organizers plan to move ahead with the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade, encouraged by community support despite the threat of immigration raids.

The 54th annual Little Village parade will step off at noon on Sept. 14, organizers said Friday.

“We wanted to make sure that we were really considering everybody’s voice and what they thought, and we got overwhelming support to continue ahead,” said Jennifer Aguilar, executive director of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce.

Jennifer Aguilar said discussions about whether to move forward with the celebration began after Gov. J.B. Pritzker suggested earlier this week that immigration raids were being timed to coincide with Mexican Independence Day festivities.

The choice to carry on with the celebrations came after talks with el

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