>> Wow, and thanks for joining us on Chicago tonight.

I'm Brandis Friedman.

Here's what we're looking at.

Vietnam is celebrating 50 years since the end of the war with the U.S. will talk with local community members and veterans about their experiences.

>> Becoming and remaining a stage or every city has been a bit of mayoral tug of war.

With sanctuary cities in the spotlight again this week.

We explain how Chicago got the designation.

>> And what it means.

And a historic Chicago parade celebrating.

Mexican culture is canceled this year.

Organizers tell us why.

>> And now to some of today's top stories the Trump administration has its first major staff shakeup of the president's second term.

President Donald Trump took to social media saying he will be nominating national security adviser Mike Waltz to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

The move comes amid ongoing scrutiny after reports revealed added a journalist to a private text chain which was used to discuss a sensitive military operation in Yemen.

But Democrats like Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth says she hopes there's more shakeup ahead.

We'll be able to polls.

>> Which was overdue.

I mean, he's a guy who started paused by text chain when they were classified channels available.

And his response really.

But I also think pick Xf needs to be fired as well.

After all said this, a person who put the classified information on that text chain with that also share that same classified information on a separate tax change involving his wife.

The cry a lot.

>> Trump says Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as national security adviser in the interim.

Demonstrators took to the streets today in Chicago and across the country to protest President Trump's policies.

The rally and March is part of international Workers Day or what's known as May Thousands marched from Union Park Grant Park where labor and immigrant advocates aired their concerns.

>> administration wants to all immigrants as a threat, all of us to to safety, to our neighborhood.

Back in we can all stand for We are the immigrants.

We are we are the workers.

>> Chicago is the site of the first ever made a event back in 18.

86 when thousands of workers protested for an 8 hour workday.

The historic Haymarket riots occurred 3 days later.

The city of Chicago and actor Jussie Smollett may have reached a settlement in the civil suit.

The actor filed against the city attorneys for both told a federal judge that they'd reached an agreement in principle but are still working out some terms small.

It was convicted of 5 counts of disorderly conduct back in 2021.

After a special prosecutor charged him with faking a hate crime in 2019.

But last year the Illinois Supreme Court tossed those convictions ruling that former Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx office had already resolve the case through a non prosecution agreement small and has consistently maintained his innocence.

High School, a cultural center theater and a frank Lloyd Wright House are among the 10 most endangered historic places in the state.

That's according to the group Landmarks, Illinois, which released their annual list today, Chicago Vocational High School in the city's Avalon Park neighborhood is one of those 3 Chicago sites on the list.

Landmarks, Illinois says while the campus was built to serve 6,000 students, less than 900 are enrolled and entire wings of a complex aren't in use and slated for demolition.

The outdoor theater of the South Shore Cultural Center showing here is also in danger after deteriorating for years to the point of being unusable.

And the JJ Walser House in Austin has been vacant since its most recent owner died in 2019.

It's one of just a handful of Frank Lloyd Wright structures still standing in Chicago.

Still to come, a local Cinco de Mayo parade is canceled over immigration enforcement fears.

We speak with the festival organizers about their decision.

But first, this week marks the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War ending.

We hear from members of the Vietnamese community and local veterans.

>> Chicago tonight is made possible in part why the Alexandra and John Nichols family.

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donors.

>> This week marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, which is also known as the fall of Saigon the conflict killed several million Vietnamese and 60,000 American service members.

Vietnam marked the anniversary of the war's and with a parade to promote peace and unity and Chicagoans are also commemorating the event.

Joining us now to share their experiences are Roger McGill, a Vietnam veteran who served in the U.S. Army and a co-organizer for Chicago's 1986.

Welcome home parade.

Dale Tippett, a Vietnam veteran who served in the U.S. Navy and helped evacuate the city of Saigon as part of Operation frequent wind.

Meng Yuan, an evacuee who escaped from Vietnam and van when executive director at the Vietnamese Association of Illinois.

Thanks to all of you for joining us.

Dale Tippett.

Let's start with you, please.

What is operation frequent wind and what was your role in it?

Well, operation frequent wind was the evacuation of South Vietnam.

There armada of ships stationed off the coast of South Vietnam War had been deteriorating for many months.

>> Orders have been put out there for us to get in position in the likely event that an evacuation would occur.

And President Ford eventually on April 29th when things totally, you know, came apart with the north coming into Saigon said start the evacuation.

So we have I don't even know how many ships that are out there.

There was a bunch of us and but it was a humanitarian mission.

I never want to put up.

>> You were you were a Ford was 18 years old.

I was my first what we call the westpac crews.

I just excited about out there being part of the military being part of the Navy's something I wanted to do.

And this all just coincided with just that moment in history.

So I just got off work couple hours later.

All of a sudden drills stop being drills and it became a real active operation.

So I was on and to be cargo ship, we carried Marines and their light equipment.

So we of what you would see is a typical cargo ship.

That's what I was on.

Only.

They had lot space for cargo, but our cargo holds were empty.

Basically.

And we started to bring those evacuees and he had cots and so forth set up for them.

>> you were one of those evacuees.

Tell us how you got out of Saigon.

>> I this style Vietnam, actually, I will Saigon.

2 days before Hilary, a April, I went see my husband in this out because he said that they may my my Saigon.

So I left and then I went to see my husband and then.

Next, they we that from area April.

We left from there.

And you got into the American ship waiting the so one of the ships the deal was talking about you were you were evacuated in the and your husband as well.

>> My husband in with my teeth.

Get your 3 children.

>> You are married at the time.

Your husband was, you are able to leave with your family.

What was life like for you?

Once you arrive to Chicago?

>> You know that time.

I did not know.

But >> it sees live weapon when we yet.

We worked for and that he did.

We get to us.

>> And you now on a coffee shop in North Center, how up a coffee shop that money insured.

Vietnamese coffee is probably your specialty.

Not it.

Amazing American cut I was hopeful Roger, you saw a hand to hand combat in Vietnam.

What was it like for you returning to the United States after war?

When I came be about 18 hours to get home from.

We left Saigon.

By plane.

>> And we flew all the way we stopped.

Japan and then we flew non-stop, too.

Oakland, California got off the plane, everybody to get off the plane got down and kissed the ground.

We're glad to be.

And by 5 of us, we're going to stay overnight and see San Francisco and stuff like that out there for a while.

And there were 4 of us.

We're in a hotel room.

Pretty close to and airfield.

we all fell asleep.

We ate at a restaurant there.

And we often so we've been up them to raise and so one of the, the does.

Against the headboard.

And within seconds, all 4 of us were on the ground in the room.

And we all decided right then and there that we're going on.

So the next morning came went over Oakland report got on a flight came home to Chicago.

I came home, got in cab.

There was an African-American cab driver driving the cabin esb where you're coming from soldier a said He said what's it like you said?

I said I don't know what they're telling year, but it's terrible over there and he welcoming home.

And that was the first.

Part of my welcome home.

>> Van Vietnamese Association of Illinois located in sometimes what's called a Jean Argyle or Little Saigon in Chicago's Edgewater, Uptown Ish communities.

Why is this neighborhood so important to keeping the history and culture of Vietnam alive in Chicago?

>> Yeah, I think us mentioned, you know, a lot of the binneys refugees when they first came resettled on Argyle.

And so, you know, took it as an opportunity to rebuild that neighborhood.

And the people share stories about what it was like in the 70's and 80's.

Just a very you know, I that community a lot of violence and under-resourced communities after that for, you know, is refugees who had to rebuild to come into an area like that, you know, rebuild with essentially nothing building, you know, network of mutual aid and community support for each other table to seek affordable housing to people seek, you know, the services that they need.

And I can imagine that folks didn't speak English, for example, you know, some folks are educated.

Others were able to connect them with the resources that were available in Chicago and to be able build a thriving community that we see today.

I think that's, you know, huge milestone for the community.

>> the Saturday, the organization you are hosting a 50 years, a Vietnamese American Community Building event.

Briefly, tell us what folks can expect there.

>> Yeah, I'm so this an opportunity for us to commemorate the 50th anniversary since the fall of Saigon and also to celebrate, you know what the community has been able to build in the last 50 years.

And, you know, you mentioned have right now is doing a celebration of reunification.

And I think that's a not a narrative that we share amongst obese Americans.

You know, it's a very difficult history.

think people often framed as them losing their country, really losing the fight.

And, you know, for democracy, which I think is a cause that a lot of people have believed and to fight for.

So this event itself is here to commemorate all of aspects of the been second community.

So to represent the experiences of Dennis a refugees, but also the families that have come since then and also the perspective of young people.

I think to hear waters experience from, I think that's a history that not a lot of young people are even aware of.

And so we have, you know, veterans that are doing a color march and then also interfaith service prayer for obviously the noise of lives that were lost during the war.

>> Roger know that you all that you hold weekly meetings every Tuesday morning for 100 or so Vietnam veteran.

So obviously you're keeping that conversation going before we run of time.

I want to know what it means to you when you you know, when you look back at a war that was 50 years ago that you are a part of it's.

>> When the fall of Saigon came in.

75, was very disturbing to a lot of us because we had flocked there tried to get freedom for to South Vietnamese people that didn't work out.

So I I reflected awful lot on it.

And then I I didn't do anything.

Never talk about a 9.

I came home from work.

One time was a manager for the phone company.

I call my wife.

I'm going to DC to the wall.

There's 21 guys on the wall that I served with.

There's 10 for my parish right here, northwest side that were killed in Vietnam.

So there was a lot of input after that.

And then I got involved.

And then 3 of us started to have coffee.

And it started from there.

We had a one of our veterans cards made something that was it sounds like it was once upon a time.

Very difficult to talk about and they want you all are slowly able to do I'm gonna give you the last word almost out of time.

>> What does it mean to you to look back on that day that you were evacuated from Vietnam 50 years ago?

>> It surely man.

the very the Pickle for Me, Too Act.

Because it happened so many people.

young.

But good thing when I thing the was towing key to that to us.

>> This is no free country.

We work.

And we can with it very, there.

You know, he's guy that.

>> We're glad that you're here.

Thank you for your service.

Thanks to all of you for joining Our thanks to Roger McGill.

Dale Tippett Long one and and when.

Up next, how Chicago got its sanctuary city status and what it means President Trump this week upped the ante in his ongoing battle against sanctuary cities like Chicago.

Trump signed an executive order demanding the Justice Department and Homeland Security published a list of state and local jurisdictions that have declined to cooperate with the administration's immigration crackdown.

The next step could be an attempt to cut off certain federal funds to sanctuary cities.

But what exactly is a sanctuary city and how did Chicago become one?

That's the timely subject of tonight's edition of WT TW News explains with Joanna Hernandez.

>> for decades, Chicago has held the designation of a state city.

But what does it mean and how has Chicago status indoors, the term sanctuary city reverse any jurisdiction that discourages limits or denies cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

There are currently hundreds of sanctuary communities in America and 13 same jury states.

Where did they come from while Berkeley, California claimed the title of first same jury city in 1971.

The sanctuary city movement really began popping up across the country in the Mid 1980's as President Reagan focused on identifying and deporting undocumented immigrants, churches opened their doors to provide shelter in resources for Central Americans fleeing civil war and violence in Chicago becoming and remaining a stranger.

Every city has been a bit of mayoral tug of Mayor Harold Washington first declared Chicago a stranger every city in 1985.

Via executive order.

>> The order prohibited police and city employees from questioning residents about their immigration status and terminated cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Some argued the policy shielded convicted criminals from deportation.

And in the 1990's, Mayor Richard Daley interpreted the policy to allow city officials to provide immigration information to the Fed's the subjects were involved in serious crimes, Chicago, same tree policies when from executive order to a strong law with the 2006 welcoming city ordinance in 2012, Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the city council weaken the law, allowing police to work with federal officials in limited cases in 2016, President Donald Trump threatened century cities with the loss of federal dollars.

Nevertheless, Chicago City Council voted to reaffirm ordinance under Mayor Lori Lightfoot and expanded welcoming ordinance close the loopholes open by Daley and Emanuel banning all police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Chicago enters its 40th year as the same tree City Mayor Brandon Johnson has reaffirmed Chicago's commitment.

And today thousands of refugees and undocumented immigrants have found a safe haven in Chicago.

point of pride for those who believe offering sanctuary is a matter of human rights.

The point of consternation for those see it as a hurdle for law enforcement.

You can watch more of our W T Tw News explains series on our Web site that is at W T Tw Dot com Slash explains.

>> Chicago's Cinco De Mayo Parade has been put on pause this Organizers say it was canceled because of fears over President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

They say nearly half of the parade sponsors dropped out after the city became a major target for immigration enforcement agents.

Here with more on this, our Hector Escobar, president of Casa Puebla and the Cermak Road Chamber of Commerce and on June, 25th Ward Alderman Byron Lopez who represents areas like Pilsen and Little Village.

Gentlemen, thank you for joining us and current after.

Let's start with you, please.

Some people confuse Cinco de Mayo with Mexican Independence Day.

But but tell us what Cinco de Mayo really celebrates.

Well, Cink of them.

It was relief for Overland.

Those.

>> We won battle against the French 18.

62 in basically the battle to place.

So I part implode left Mexico.

The French came through Veracruz to the port of Veracruz because he was a money which or to a French the French time at that point.

So they take to take over the country because that amount money.

So but fortunately, a great general.

that's just that I will, sir.

was some action makes it kind Murray can she was born in states and he over in that to wing that battle what limits.

>> Alderman, how have your constituents responded to the announcement that the parade is being canceled this year?

>> Well, the thing, of course, the any tradition that gets compromise the that filing is that the federal government has unleashed resources.

It's or community.

It is.

It It is really a call for action.

We see.

But really the out.

cannot make several community seen that decline that people are afraid of going school, going go into events.

But if you do believe within the community started to overcome the fear, we cannot be afraid of the theaters.

We have to organize.

So that was great to see a grade.

mayday does thousands of people can come of just being, you know, few weeks after race for more people coming out.

And it was a much 3,000 people.

So of course, going to Earth to the put the fear, too, that the human face the community safer.

And with more overnight thing and we're not going to be afraid.

>> And I know you participated in May Day action today as well.

Hector, the grade is taking place in the city for over 40 years.

How has it evolved over time?

>> Well, actually is being the great Last year we had an issue with again problem, but you know, was sold.

Thank you.

Alderman Byron and the police department.

They've been great any source is anything we need.

It said they're being hoping all the time people are proud, very proud to take be party.

Spend the Cinco de Mayo in special that ISIS Mexico and say nice time to celebrate show a culture.

But at this point is nothing to celebrate.

It is just hard.

Like document says people are afraid some people.

They don't want to go to work.

They have to want to work because one of them have to right.

But one of them had stay home or their fears that other events might need to be canceled as well like Mexican Independence Day.

>> Well, I hope not.

But you know what?

Everyone has to take a decision.

We do card to see show we consult around the neighborhood.

>> And with that was best for for the community to keep them safe.

You know, we so some of great turn to the May first.

Yeah.

everything.

Turns like that weight.

But that West side, this new friend celebrate.

We get to celebrate culture >> What a community's lose when the celebrations don't happen both economically for the businesses that benefit from celebrations like this.

But also like the loss of a cultural exchange.

>> Yeah, I think that this is a lawsuit in, you know, France, like you mentioned, we've seen the decline economic activity.

>> a bay vital and and, you know, I every like 26 Street.

18 street.

So we see like that not only the economic loss, but like you said, the attack on the identity, the crouch or the vibrant super neighborhoods.

So it is the tackle on on the communities to spread fear.

8, the Human East, Asian community station.

But ultimately to really that proceeding, which is really at stake.

And that's that.

People to come to to pick up >> Hector, OK, sorry, alderman, you're freezing a little bit to as after.

Hector, some members of the community, I understand, are planning to leave the U.S. amid this immigration crackdown.

What can you tell us about that?

Well, you know, scenes we have seen rates all over the country.

>> my home state, governor of had in time.

>> He's going open an office here.

Wilson matter of fact, helping them to get some them.

Some of documents taken out pain Mexican consulate and also because they preparing.

They have the governor.

they preparing to help them in case they want more back to Mexico with jobs Monday's to start a business and they are they have very serious to move back to Mexico.

A lot of people so rather than staying here, some folks are considering and living in sort of that fear.

Some folks are considering just picking up and heading back to Mexico.

Governor OKs.

>> That's what we'll have to leave it all the man I know we've got you on sorry about that.

But thank you so much to Alderman Byron Lopez for joining us as well as Hector ask of it of the men.

And that is our show for this Thursday night.

Join us tomorrow night at 5.37, for the week in review.

Now for all of us here at Chicago tonight, I'm Brandis Friedman.

Thanks for watching.

Good night.

>> Closed caption is made possible by Robert a cliff and Clifford law offices, a Chicago personal injury and wrongful death that supports