In the 79th year, Mexican musicians, waving the Mexican flag and the shout of “Viva of Mexico”, flooded Cesar Chavez Avenue in East Los Angeles on Sunday, participated in the annual Mexican Independence Day parade and celebrations.
But this year, facing the Trump administration’s relentless immigration crackdown – recently supported by the Supreme Court Allowed decision Federal agents restarted the controversial “patrol” in Southern California – with a new sense of resistance and pride.
For many people, appearance is more important. Stand up.
“We’re here, we’re going to continue fighting for our rights and other people who can’t fight for themselves,” Samantha Robles, 21, said while watching the parade. “I’m glad there are a lot of people here, so they can hold up the flag – not the Mexican flag, but the American flag because we’re all Mexican-American.”
Members of the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles held the Mexican flag on Sunday at the East Latin America Mexican Independence Day parade and festival on Cesar Chavez Avenue in Los Angeles.
(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times)
But the parade was also a painful moment for Robles. This year, her grandmother chose to stay home in light of ongoing immigration attacks in the area. A new Supreme Court ruling authorizes U.S. immigration agents to stop and detain anyone they may suspect, even based on a lot more work on speaking Spanish or brown-skinned in a car wash. Immigration rights lawyers and local leaders condemn it Discriminatory and dangerousit aroused the fear of Robles, who described himself as an East Los Angeles native.
“My skin has brown skin, I have native characteristics,” Robles said. “I’m afraid I’m not only for myself, [but] For my friends, who are also from Mexico, are here to get more opportunities for higher education. …I’m afraid of those who have been deprived of their family. ”
Mexico Civico Civico Patriotism Company organized Sunday’s parade and celebrations Fridaybut decided to continue to celebrate Mexico’s independence from Spain, as it has been decades since September.
The decision seemed to drive a sense of pride resistance on Sunday.
“Aqui estamos y no nos vamos!” (“We’re here, we’re not leaving!”) yelled former mayor of Huntington Park and the parade Madrid or godmother Rosario Marion.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass held TJ’s Parrot Pepe Hermon at the East Latin Mexican Independence Day Parade and Festival in Los Angeles on Sunday.
(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times)
When Mayor Karen Bass was ridden by the crowd, she read aloud the sign on the sidewalk, saying, “Trump must go!”
The crowd cheered.
“I’m just reading the sign,” she said. But the bass reiterated her support for Latino voters, who opposed the ongoing immigration raids, calling them horrible.
“Our city stand,” Bass told the crowd. “We are an immigrant city. We understand that 50% of our cities are Latino, and the idea that Latinos will be targeted is annoying.”
The Trump administration insists that its immigration actions are merely attempts to enforce the law and blow up bass and other city leaders to stop the resistance. But many Latino leaders say the government’s use of force is an abuse of power, which has inspired people’s fear. It hurts people and the economy of the region.
Alfonso Fox Orozco wore a traditional Mexican dress at the East Los Angeles Parade and Music Festival in Los Angeles on Sunday.
(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times)
This concern may have affected Sunday’s parade, which seems to be less than in previous years. Anti-Trump, immigration and customs enforcement or ice signs on the street. Organizations such as Los Angeles United Teachers shouted “La Migra No, La Escuela Si.” (“No immigration enforcement, yes school!”)
Jenny Hernandez, a fifth generation Los Angeles resident, held up a homemade sign that reads “Crush Ice.” The 51-year-old was disturbed by recent raids, many targeting individuals in the workplace.
“What they did wrong,” she said. “We are not criminals. We are Mexican, Hispanic, Latino, Chicano, whatever you want to call it…. We shouldn’t get this treatment. … need to change.”
La Catrina Andante sat in a traditional topcoat car during a parade in Los Angeles on Sunday.
(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times)
But for the most part, the Latino joy that was radiated by the day that was not seen in recent months. A crossroads burnt sage, provided by Danza Azteca group, filled the air with the air, while attendees (some in traditionally embroidered dresses and shirts) admired Cumbia Song, who exploded nearby radio stations.
A young girl, no more than 5 years old, called “Fresa” together with her mother, a street vendor. A grandmother sat on her legs covered with blankets with the color of the Mexican flag. Politicians, teens, dancers and men on Sharos or horse-riding horses shouted, “Mexico, Mexico!”
Michoacan Patzcuaro vendors dress up and balance the pots of the East Los Angeles parade and festivals.
(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times)
Other races have also joined the popular celebrations, including the wave of Puerto Ricans, Bolivians and El Salvadors. Including famous faces Snow Products Real 92.3 FM radio host Big Boy, who once used Reins as an Elotero supplier. Space Shuttle astronaut José M. Hernández Lead the parade with the Grand Marshal. His journey from immigrant farm workers to NASA astronauts is detailed in Amazon’s best movie One Million Mile Away.
Giselle Salgado, who is also an East Los Angeles native, said that while she noticed a smaller crowd this year, it is important to see a good vote from her community and public officials.
“We are not afraid,” she said. “It’s our tradition, we always come here. … I’m sure a lot of people are scared, but they’re still here. We won’t let fear and intimidation be with us.”
