‘Not afraid’: East L.A.’s Mexican Independence Day parade goes on, even amid ICE raids

For the 79th yr, mariachi musicians, waving Mexican flags and shouts of “Viva Mexico,” flooded Cesar Chavez Avenue in East Los Angeles on Sunday for the annual Mexican Independence Day parade and celebration.

However this yr, within the face of the Trump administration’s relentless immigration crackdown — just lately bolstered by the Supreme Courtroom determination that permits federal brokers to restart their controversial “roving patrols” throughout Southern California — there was a renewed sense of defiance, and of delight.

For a lot of, it was much more essential to indicate up. To face tall.

“We’re right here and we’re going to proceed preventing for our rights and for others who can not combat for themselves,” Samantha Robles, 21, mentioned as she watched the parade roll by. “I’m glad that many individuals are right here to allow them to increase their flags — simply not the Mexican flag, but additionally the American flag, as a result of we’re each Mexican American.”

However the parade was additionally a bittersweet second for Robles. This yr, her grandmother opted to remain dwelling, given ongoing sweeping immigration raids throughout the area. A brand new Supreme Courtroom ruling approved U.S. immigration brokers to cease and detain anybody they could suspect is within the U.S. illegally, even when based mostly on little greater than their job at a automobile wash, talking Spanish or having brown pores and skin. Immigration rights attorneys and native leaders have denounced that as discriminatory and harmful, and it has stoked fears in Robles, who describes herself as an East L.A. native.

“I’ve my brown pores and skin, I’ve my Indigenous options,” Robles mentioned. “I’m afraid not only for myself, [but] for my associates who’re additionally from Mexico and so they got here right here for extra alternatives, for the next schooling. … I’m afraid for individuals who are getting taken away from their households.”

The Comité Mexicano Civico Patriotico Inc., which organized Sunday’s parade and celebration, addressed these fears in a press convention on Friday, however determined to maneuver forward with its celebration of Mexican independence from Spain, because it has carried out so in September for many years.

That call appeared to drive a way of proud resistance on Sunday.

“Aqui estamos y no nos vamos!” (“We’re right here and we’re not leaving!”) yelled Rosario Marín, the previous mayor of Huntington Park and the parade’s madrina, or godmother.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass holds TJ’s parrot Pepe Hermon on the East L.A. Mexican Independence Day Parade & Competition on Sunday in Los Angeles.

(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Instances)

When Mayor Karen Bass rode by the gang, she learn aloud an indication from the sidewalk that mentioned: “Trump Should Go!”

The gang cheered.

“I used to be simply studying the signal,” she mentioned, with a smile on her face. However Bass reiterated her assist for her Latino constituents, and her opposition to the continued immigration raids, calling them horrible.

“Our metropolis stands united,” Bass informed the gang. “We’re a metropolis of immigrants. We perceive that fifty% of our metropolis is Latino, and the concept that Latinos could be focused is abhorrent.”

The Trump administration has insisted its immigration actions are merely an try and implement the legislation, and has blasted Bass and different metropolis leaders for stoking resistance. However many Latino leaders say the administration’s use of drive is an abuse of energy, stoking fears which have damage folks and the area’s financial system.

Alfonso Fox Orozco wears conventional Mexican costume on the East L.A. Parade & Competition on Sunday in Los Angeles.

(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Instances)

Such issues could have affected Sunday’s parade, which appeared much less attended than prior years. Anti-Trump and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE indicators, lined the road. Organizations such because the United Lecturers Los Angeles yelled out “La migra no, la escuela si.” (“No immigration enforcement, sure colleges!”)

Jenny Hernandez, a fifth-generation East L.A. resident, held up a selfmade signal that learn “Crush ICE.” The 51-year-old has been disturbed by the latest raids, lots of which have focused people within the office.

“What they’re doing is incorrect,” she mentioned. “We’re not criminals. We’re Mexican, Hispanic, Latino, Chicano, no matter you wish to name it…. We don’t deserve this remedy.… There must be a change.”

La Catrina Andante sits atop a automobile in conventional face paint on the parade Sunday in Los Angeles.

(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Instances)

However largely, the day emanated Latino pleasure, unseen in latest months. Burnt sage crammed the air at one intersection, courtesy of a Danza Azteca group, whereas attendees — some in conventional embroidered clothes and shirts — relished the cumbia tune blasting from a close-by radio.

A younger woman, not more than 5 years previous, belted out a name for “fresas” alongside her mom, a road vendor. A grandmother sat together with her lap coated in a blanket, knitted with the colours of the Mexican flag. Politicians, youngsters, dancers and charros, or males driving dancing horses, shouted, “Viva Mexico!”

Women dressed as distributors from Patzcuaro, Michoacan, steadiness on pots on the East L.A. Parade & Competition Sunday in Los Angeles.

(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Instances)

Different ethnic teams joined the favored celebration, together with waves of Puerto Ricans, Bolivians and Salvadorans. Notable faces included Snow Tha Product and Actual 92.3 FM radio host Massive Boy, who at one level took the reins as an elotero vendor. House shuttle astronaut José M. Hernández led the parade as grand marshal. , His journey from migrant farmworker to NASA astronaut was detailed within the Amazon Prime movie “A Million Miles Away.”

Giselle Salgado, additionally an East L.A. native, mentioned it was essential to see a great turnout from her neighborhood, in addition to from public officers, although she seen a smaller crowd this yr.

“We’re not afraid,” she mentioned. “That is our custom, we’ve all the time come out right here. … I’m certain lots of people are scared, however they’re nonetheless right here. We’re not going to let concern and intimidation work in opposition to us.”