My friends and I had our own rambunctious time this year when one of the guys in our group was attacked by a mob of unruly teens. We were less than 4 blocks from my house, walking to the parade and minding our own business. Needless to say, he went to the hospital in an ambulance and the punks that were initially caught by the cops were later released (with no record of the 'arrest').
I asked some people what they thought about the cancellation. While comments on the Trib's website and calls to Alderman's office apparently are in favor of the parade nix, many are pissed. A lot recognize something needed to change to control what was becoming Mardi Gras fiasco on the south side.
Here's what some had to say:
I went to Brother Rice High School with lots of Beverly kids. I'm definitely upset about the loss of the parade, but I know that people are not going to let this decision stand too easily.
I do understand the problem with what the parade has become, but I'm not going to be able to give it up without a fight. The South Side Parade is a point of pride for us. It's a way for us to not only celebrate our heritage, but also make a statement to the North side about how we can throw a better parade than they can.
The city parade is so commercialized that it might as well be a Macy's Parade with shamrocks. The South Side is the only place in Chicago that doesn't try to be Irish on St. Patrick's Day because we're Irish all year long. The Parade day isn't a day you have to find some beer and get wasted. It's a day we all get to wear the outfits we secretly want to wear all year, and get a whole day to drink and eat with our family and friends. It's the only day that I can confidently say that there is no better place to be.
I assume that's why we grew to such a huge number of parade goers. The North Siders must have been jealous, and had to come see for themselves. The problem is when they come down in hoards, get way too drunk, and disrespect the neighborhood. Not being from here they don't have enough pride to throw their beer in a garbage bin, and pee in the designated places. A few less of those people would be fine with me. I know the South is going to keep the true spirit of the parade alive however we can. It's about pride for us not just getting hammered with shamrocks. -Greg Miller, 23, Oak Lawn*****
I think that the decision to end the parade is a terrible shame. The parade isn't just a celebration of Irish heritage or even a drunk fest. Its about friends and family. What I looked forward to most about the SSI parade was the number of old friends I'd see walking towards western and reconnecting with them. For one day a year, the people of the south side would come together and forget about all their problems and just have a good time. I am not willing to let that go and will be on Western next march and encourage my friends and their friends to meet me there. - Mike, 21, Evergreen Park (Note: full name is Michael Timothy Patrick Murphy; can you get any more Irish than that?!)*****
I think the practice of bringing crowds of people in on charter buses should end. On one end, it's better than having drunk drivers. However, its more people than what the neighborhood can deal with, and the wrong types of people on top of that. I think the parade should go back to it's roots of being a strictly-neighborhood event with family-friendly sights. I also think the CTA should run the Western bus straight from its inception to Beverly for the parade without transfers just for the day, they do this for events at United Center with the Madison bus. - Al DiZenzo, 24*****
I think it's a bad idea. A few years ago they were "really going to crack down on public drinking" but this year I didn't see the cops doing anything about it. Some of them were telling kids and adults to "pour it into a plastic cup" so they didn't have to arrest them. Clearly, they don't have all the resources to arrest 200,000 drunk idiots, but I think if they could try and crack down on that, and the party buses bringing in people from god-knows-where, then the parade would be less of a "drunken festival" and a better event for families and people who don't attend purely to get drunk off their asses. - Angie Frazzini Gazdziak, 24*****
Hooray! Actually, here is my real thought: I think if they cracked down on underage drinking and didn't allow for those stupid buses bringing northsiders (no offense), then it would less crowded and less chaotic. However, consider the events of this past parade, i would say crack down on the little punks! - Kathy Smola, 23, Midway*****
I think the decision to end the parade is just ridiculous, they don't realize that they are cancelling a tradition that affects not only those on the southside, but also the rest of Chicago and the world.The southside parade has become more than just a parade but a tradition that has been passed through the years. I know for me, it was an event that I had to wait until I was 16 to attend, and that day couldn't come soon enough. It's just heartbreaking to see that they are going to let it die like this.
We are so nervous about how our business will be affected by the cancellation of the parade. - Erin, 21 (her mom owns an Irish novelties shop)
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