By Barry Lank for The Eastsider
Originally published June 23, 2025
City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado has postponed July 4 celebrations sponsored by Council District 14 in the wake of immigration raids, according to Alejandra Alarcon, a spokesperson for the office.
Jurado’s office decided on the postponement after meeting with neighborhood councils and other stakeholders, Alarcon said. Independence Day events in Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, and Northeast Los Angeles are to be rescheduled for some time in August.
The precise days and times have not yet been chosen, Alarcon said.
“We’re responding to the crisis with the presence of federal agents in the community,” Alarcon said.
But some individual neighborhoods in the district may still be going forward with festivities.
The Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce is still holding its scheduled kick-off concert on June 29, according to chamber president Michael Nogueira.
“I will not cancel it, and we never have canceled it,” Nogueira said. “There’s no reason to be canceling this event. There’s no widespread curfew. It’s one square mile of downtown. It’s not affecting us.”
El Sereno, however, has called off its 66th Annual Independence Day Parade. “We stand with our community,” the El Sereno Bicentennial Committee stated in a social media post. “The safety of our participants, spectators, and volunteers is always at the forefront.”
Less than a year ago, Jurado’s predecessor, Kevin de León, was nearly forced to cancel Christmas tree lightings due to contracting issues. The lightings took place after all, however, when contracts and resources were extended.