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Town of Lengthy Seaside has canceled its annual Día de los Muertos parade, citing issues raised by neighborhood members about federal immigration operations.
Town-sponsored parade is normally held in early November and attracts giant crowds to Lengthy Seaside.
Although town 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 outside occasion,” mentioned Lengthy Seaside spokesperson Kevin Lee.
Lengthy Seaside Metropolis Councilmember Mary Zendejas had requested the cancellation, Lee mentioned.
“This choice didn’t come calmly,” each Zendejas and town mentioned in statements. The choice addresses “real fears raised by neighborhood members, particularly those that might face the opportunity of sudden and indiscriminate federal enforcement actions that undermine the sense of safety essential to take part absolutely in public life.”
The Arte y Ofrendas Pageant, a separate ticketed occasion organized by an out of doors vendor and held at Rainbow Lagoon Park, additionally has been canceled this yr. The pageant usually 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 vehicles and different distributors to the pageant final yr, known as the cancellation “very unhappy.”
“Everybody’s very unhappy concerning the scenario. Día de los Muertos has been one of many largest celebrations for a really very long time, and town has carried out an amazing job placing it on,” Lemus informed The Instances 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 mentioned some native companies had 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 Seaside, an occasion he co-founded that’s set to start Sept. 22.
“They’re afraid,” he mentioned. “General, it impacts everyone.”
Immigration raids have swept Southern California in latest months, with hundreds 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 primarily based on the kind of job they maintain, the language they converse or their look.
The ruling has bolstered fears that individuals with brown pores and skin and Spanish audio system might 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 Seaside Metropolis Council authorized a movement to push unspent funds allotted for this yr’s parade to subsequent yr’s funds, making certain $100,000 might be out there for the 2026 parade.
The council additionally added $600,000 to the Lengthy Seaside Justice Fund, which offers authorized illustration to residents who face immigration actions, bringing the funds out there for the fund to $1.85 million. The fund ensures residents have entry to “assets essential to safeguard their constitutional rights, uphold due course of protections, and protect household unity,” in line with 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 typical, however many mentioned they felt a way of satisfaction and obligation to attend despite the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
“We’re right here and we’re going to proceed combating for our rights and for others who can not battle for themselves,” Samantha Robles, 21, informed The Instances as she watched the parade roll by.
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