Long Beach cancels annual Día de los Muertos parade over fears of immigration raids

[ad_1] The town of Lengthy Seashore has canceled its annual Día de los Muertos parade, citing issues raised by group members about federal immigration operations.

The town-sponsored parade is often held in early November and attracts massive crowds to Lengthy Seashore.

Although the town just isn't conscious of federal enforcement exercise concentrating on the parade, the choice was made “out of an abundance of warning” as a result of it’s “a big and really public out of doors occasion,” stated Lengthy Seashore spokesperson Kevin Lee.

Lengthy Seashore Metropolis Councilmember Mary Zendejas had requested the cancellation, Lee stated.

“This determination didn't come flippantly,” each Zendejas and the town stated in statements. The choice addresses “real fears raised by group members, particularly those that could face the potential for sudden and indiscriminate federal enforcement actions that undermine the sense of safety essential to take part absolutely in public life.”

The Arte y Ofrendas Competition, a separate ticketed occasion organized by an outdoor vendor and held at Rainbow Lagoon Park, additionally has been canceled this yr. The pageant sometimes coincides with the city-sponsored parade and is held the place the parade ends its route, thus drawing parade attendees.

Roberto Carlos Lemus, a marketer who introduced meals vans and different distributors to the pageant final yr, known as the cancellation “very unhappy.”

“Everybody’s very unhappy concerning the state of affairs. Día de los Muertos has been one of many largest celebrations for a really very long time, and the town has achieved an incredible job placing it on,” Lemus informed The Occasions on Sunday. “Sadly with Latinos being kidnapped and attacked by ICE and the present administration, I do perceive why they made the choice that they made.”

Lemus stated some native companies have been nervous about financial fallout of the pageant and parade cancellation in addition to the potential results of raids on Latino Restaurant Week in Lengthy Seashore, an occasion he co-founded that's set to start Sept. 22.

“They're afraid,” he stated. “General, it impacts everyone.”

Immigration raids have swept Southern California in current months, with 1000's of individuals detained by federal brokers. A brand new Supreme Court docket ruling has cleared the way in which for U.S. immigration brokers to cease and detain individuals in Southern California whom they suspect of being within the U.S. illegally, even when their suspicion is solely based mostly on the kind of job they maintain, the language they communicate or their look.

The ruling has bolstered fears that folks with brown pores and skin and Spanish audio system shall be focused — particularly going into nationwide Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins Monday — and was met with outrage by immigration rights attorneys and native leaders.

At its assembly Tuesday, the Lengthy Seashore Metropolis Council accredited a movement to push unspent funds allotted for this yr’s parade to subsequent yr’s price range, making certain $100,000 shall be obtainable for the 2026 parade.

The council additionally added $600,000 to the Lengthy Seashore Justice Fund, which offers authorized illustration to residents who face immigration actions, bringing the price range obtainable for the fund to $1.85 million. The fund ensures residents have entry to “sources essential to safeguard their constitutional rights, uphold due course of protections, and protect household unity,” in response to the movement.

Some Southern California occasions have proceeded as scheduled regardless of related fears.

East L.A.’s 79th annual Mexican Independence Day parade held on Sunday appeared to attract smaller crowds than ordinary, however many stated they felt a way of delight and obligation to attend despite the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

“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, informed The Occasions as she watched the parade roll by.