The city of Long Beach has canceled its annual D\u00eda de los Muertos parade, citing concerns raised by community members about federal immigration operations. <\/p>\n
The city-sponsored parade is usually held in early November and draws large crowds to Long Beach.<\/p>\n
Even though the city is not aware of federal enforcement activity targeting the parade, the decision was made \u201cout of an abundance of caution\u201d because it\u2019s \u201ca large and very public outdoor event,\u201d said Long Beach spokesperson Kevin Lee.<\/p>\n
Long Beach City Councilmember Mary Zendejas had requested the cancellation, Lee said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis decision did not come lightly,\u201d both Zendejas and the city said in statements. The decision addresses \u201cgenuine fears raised by community members, especially those who may face the possibility of sudden and indiscriminate federal enforcement actions that undermine the sense of security necessary to participate fully in public life.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Arte y Ofrendas Festival, a separate ticketed event organized by an outside vendor and held at Rainbow Lagoon Park, also has been canceled this year. The festival typically coincides with the city-sponsored parade and is held where the parade ends its route, thus drawing parade attendees.<\/p>\n
Roberto Carlos Lemus, a marketer who brought food trucks and other vendors to the festival last year, called the cancellation \u201cvery sad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone\u2019s very sad about the situation. D\u00eda de los Muertos has been one of the largest celebrations for a very long time, and the city has done a great job putting it on,\u201d Lemus told The Times on Sunday. \u201cUnfortunately with Latinos being kidnapped and attacked by ICE and the current administration, I do understand why they made the decision that they made.\u201d <\/p>\n
Lemus said some local businesses were worried about economic fallout of the festival and parade cancellation as well as the potential effects of raids on Latino Restaurant Week in Long Beach, an event he co-founded that is set to begin Sept. 22.<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cThey are afraid,\u201d he said. \u201cOverall, it affects everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n Immigration raids have swept Southern California in recent months, with thousands of people detained by federal agents. A new Supreme Court ruling has cleared the way for U.S. immigration agents to stop and detain people in Southern California whom they suspect of being in the U.S. illegally, even if their suspicion is solely based on the type of job they hold, the language they speak or their appearance. <\/p>\n The ruling has bolstered fears that people with brown skin and Spanish speakers will be targeted \u2014 especially going into national Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins Monday \u2014 and was met with outrage by immigration rights attorneys and local leaders.<\/p>\n