Squirrel Hill’s Lunar New Year parade will not roll down Murray Avenue this year, after neighborhood organizers pulled the plug over worries about federal immigration enforcement. The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition and the Pittsburgh chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans announced in January that some residents, especially immigrants and refugees, did not feel safe gathering for a large, public parade. It is the first year without a public Squirrel Hill Lunar New Year event since the parade began in 2016.
Why Organizers Pulled The Parade
Leaders with the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition and OCA-Pittsburgh say they made the call after talking with community members and weighing safety concerns. "If this parade had gone on and if we put even just one life at risk, I don’t think we could have that on our conscience," OCA-Pittsburgh co-president Marian Lien told 90.5 WESA. SHUC executive director Maria Cohen said the two groups jointly decided in January to cancel the public parade.
Enforcement Trends That Reshaped Celebrations
Organizers point to a national uptick in immigration enforcement that has made big public gatherings feel more precarious for families with mixed immigration statuses. Data from the Deportation Data Project show sharp recent increases in ICE arrests, and federal activity in other cities has already pushed some Lunar New Year events off the calendar. Federal deployments in Minneapolis this winter led some celebrations there to be postponed, according to MPR News, and the city of Pittsburgh canceled its downtown International Parade and Festival last June over similar concerns, as reported by WTAE.
How Squirrel Hill Is Marking The Year
In place of a street parade, the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition is inviting residents to write New Year wishes on red tags and tie them to trees around the neighborhood. Silk Elephant on Murray Avenue is distributing the tags and helping customers fill them out. Restaurant owner Norraset Mareedokmai told organizers he was disappointed to lose the parade, but he backed the decision to prioritize safety. Local leaders are also urging neighbors to support Asian-owned restaurants and businesses as another show of solidarity. These details are reported by 90.5 WESA.
Other Local Events And Ways To Show Support
Not every Lunar New Year tradition disappeared. Cultural organizations and institutions held smaller events this month, including a gala hosted by the Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Center and several OCA-Pittsburgh gatherings focused on education and family activities. Organizers say those indoor events were designed to keep the holiday visible while lowering risk for vulnerable community members. Information on community banquets and local performances is available through OCA-Pittsburgh.
Neighborhood leaders say the red-tag project and the push to shop at Asian-owned businesses are meant to keep the season’s spirit out in the open while protecting residents who may feel targeted by enforcement activity. They add that they hope to bring back a public parade in a year when everyone can attend without fear.
