{"id":158277,"date":"2025-08-19T11:34:50","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T11:34:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/158277\/"},"modified":"2025-08-19T11:34:50","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T11:34:50","slug":"after-ices-show-of-force-ska-punk-fans-reclaimed-macarthur-park-this-weekend-l-a-taco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/158277\/","title":{"rendered":"After ICE’s Show of Force, Ska-Punk Fans Reclaimed MacArthur Park This Weekend ~ L.A. TACO"},"content":{"rendered":"

On July 7th, 2025, federal agents descended<\/a> onto MacArthur Park in what was to be a planned immigration raid and show of force meant to strike fear into the hearts of local communities. While the operation didn\u2019t stop locals from confronting the agents at the time, it was a heartbreaking and terrifying sight in a time when many are afraid to leave their homes or return to work.<\/p>\n

As communities form rapid-response networks, create fundraisers for legal expenses for those detained by the feds, and demonstrate in the streets for their abducted neighbors, joy seems like a dwindling resource. But on Saturday, August 16, hundreds of Latinx punks gathered at MacArthur Park\u2019s Levitt Pavilion<\/a> for an evening of anti-authoritarian cumbia and hardcore ska punk as one of the venue\u2019s 10 free summer concerts. The show was booked by Clemente Ruiz, the founder of Evoekore Media, who also recently raised more than $15K at his “Sin Miedo<\/a>” ska-punk benefit at Jewel’s Catch One for families affected by ICE raids.<\/p>\n

The flyer claimed that it would be \u201cTHE BIGGEST BADDEST SKACORE SHOW OF THE YEAR.\u201d For local impacted communities, it would be one of the most important.<\/p>\n

\"FederalFederal agents descend on MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on July 7, 2025. Photo by J.W. Hendricks for L.A. TACO.\"TheThe crowd dances as Lxs Cochinxs performs in MacArthur Park on August 16, 2025. Photo by J.W. Hendricks for L.A. TACO.<\/p>\n

The opener was Lxs Cochinxs, a trans lesbian cumbia group who brought pulse-pounding rhythm with songs like their anti-colonial anthem \u201cCancela La Guerra\u201d and their rendition of \u201cLa Vaca.\u201d After that was the headliner: hardcore ska punk group La Resistencia, which was founded in South East LA 25 years ago. As soon as they went on, the crowd formed an enormous mosh pit. The perpetually spinning circle of shoving, jumping, head-banging, and cheering hardly let up the entire show, only ever pausing to pick someone up if they fell down. <\/p>\n

The band threw pi\u00f1atas of Trump and a demon dressed as an ICE agent into the crowd, who immediately tore them up. At one point, the image of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata shone bright on the screen above the band. People waved Mexican, Salvadoran, and Palestinian flags. Many wore shirts with \u201cFUCK ICE\u201d emblazoned on the backs. For punks, the pit is a place of solidarity, healing, and loud, intense, radical, resistance-fueled joy. <\/p>\n

\"FederalFederal agents descend on MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on July 7, 2025. Photo by J.W. Hendricks for L.A. TACO.\"TheThe crowd gathers as La Resistencia sets up in MacArthur Park on August 16, 2025. Photo by J.W. Hendricks for L.A. TACO.<\/p>\n

Among La Resistencia\u2019s most intense songs was \u201cNo Te Enfades,\u201d which proudly proclaimed, \u201cSomos m\u00e1s, somos mucho m\u00e1s! \u00a1No tenemos miedo!\u201d (\u201cWe are more, we are so much more! We are not afraid!\u201d). At the end, La Resistencia thanked Los Angeles, and yelled, \u201cTake care of each other!\u201d<\/p>\n

After so many witnessed MacArthur Park being occupied by militarized agents, it seemed like one couldn’t look at the park without being reminded of the day. But seeing MacArthur Park reclaimed as a place of resistance through music gave the feeling of a unifying, liberating experience. Everyone went home full of joy.<\/p>\n

Despite famously losing a few products at a recent anti-ICE protest,\u00a0one of the concert\u2019s many sponsors was Waymo.<\/p>\n

\"FederalFederal agents descend on MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on July 7, 2025. Photo by J.W. Hendricks for L.A. TACO.\"TheThe crowd gathers as La Resistencia sets up in MacArthur Park on August 16, 2025. Photo by J.W. Hendricks for L.A. TACO.\"\"The crowd dances as Lxs Cochinxs performs in MacArthur Park on August 16, 2025.\"\"The crowd dances and moshes as La Resistencia performs in MacArthur Park on August 16, 2025.\"\"The crowd dances and moshes as La Resistencia performs in MacArthur Park on August 16, 2025.\"\"The crowd dances and moshes as La Resistencia performs in MacArthur Park on August 16, 2025.\"\"The crowd dances and moshes as La Resistencia performs in MacArthur Park on August 16, 2025.\"\"The crowd dances and moshes as La Resistencia performs in MacArthur Park on August 16, 2025.\"\"The crowd dances and moshes as La Resistencia performs in MacArthur Park on August 16, 2025.\"\"The crowd dances and moshes as La Resistencia performs in MacArthur Park on August 16, 2025.\"\"Federal agents descend on MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on July 7, 2025.\"\"The crowd dances as Lxs Cochinxs performs in MacArthur Park on August 16, 2025.\"\"Lxs Cochinxs performs in MacArthur Park on August 16, 2025.\"\"