CHICAGO (WLS) — This Chinese Lunar New Year marks the beginning of the Year of the Horse, a celebration that carries deeper meaning amid ongoing immigration operations in the Chicago area and cities across the country.
Amid the vibrant dancing and cultural pride felt at Wentworth and Clark on Sunday, there was a strong, underlying message of solidarity within the immigrant community.
“The general trends are wealth, prosperity, and happiness for everyone,” said Edward Huang, a Chinatown resident. “Especially for the Chinese community that’s built on immigrants settling here in Chicago. It’s like a yearly annual reminder that we are all still one community, sticking together.”
The event, Light Up Chinatown, organized by the Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce alongside several Asian American organizations, welcomed the Lunar New Year with lights, joy, and a spirit of community. This year’s celebration honors the Year of the Horse, a symbol known for energy, passion, and action.
“It kind of is a reminder for us as immigrants to all stick together and to charge forward, no matter what happens,” Huang added.
This message resonates strongly as the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown continues, with recent incidents including multiple shootings by federal agents—one fatal shooting in suburban Franklin Park and two deadly shootings in Minnesota.
“Let this be a year of unity and strength, as the Year of the Horse charges us to do. It’s to lead with love and to have healthy resistance and a rebellion to ensure that our city remains a welcoming city,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
“It just made me feel great that people are here. We are not afraid to gather. We should be able to celebrate our cultures freely without fear of ICE agents racially profiling people,” said 11th Ward Alderman Nicole Lee. “Now more than ever is the time for us to show strength and unity as a community.”
The Lunar New Year officially begins on February 17, with the Lunar New Year parade scheduled for March 1.
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