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(KTLA) – More Southern California communities have canceled or postponed their 4th of July celebrations due to federal immigration raids occurring across the region.
Among the most prominent canceled events is the Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Summer Block Party, originally scheduled for July 4. According to the event’s website, the postponement comes “in light of recent events affecting a portion of Downtown Los Angeles and the ongoing circumstances impacting the region.”
No official rescheduled date was announced; the website only stated that the Summer Block Party will be held “later in the summer.”
In Cudahy – a city where 97% of the population identifies as Hispanic – the celebration originally set for July 3 has been postponed, officials announced. Parks will remain open, and regular programming is set to continue as scheduled.
The community of Bell Gardens, which borders Cudahy, has canceled a concert and two outdoor movie showings, including one that was scheduled for this past Saturday and another planned for July 3. City officials said the cancellations were out of “an abundance of caution regarding concerns for resident safety over federal immigration enforcement activities.”
Another nearby community, Huntington Park, has also canceled its Independence Day celebration that was supposed to be held on July 3. No reason for the cancellation was given.
Other local predominantly Hispanic communities have also called off their 4th of July celebrations, including El Sereno, where the community’s annual Independence Day parade has been canceled this year.
All July 4 celebrations in L.A. City Council District 14 – which encompasses many Hispanic communities in East L.A. – have been canceled or postponed in the wake of the immigration raids, a spokesperson for Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado told the Boyle Heights Beat.
Speaking to affiliate KTLA on Monday morning, East Los Angeles resident Jordan Escobar said he understands why officials are canceling events and why many may not even be in the mood to celebrate.
“I have family members who are being affected by this, and I have other friends that I know who are being affected by these injustices right now,” Escobar said. “So I get why people are refraining [from celebrating]. I believe it’s important to voice our opinions.”
