Charros on horseback, pageant queens, danzantes and a sea of Mexican flags took over Cesar Chavez Avenue on Sunday for the 79th East L.A. Mexican Independence Day Parade.
The largest and longest-running event of its kind went on as planned despite fears over possible immigration enforcement.
The event kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, where parade organizers and local elected officials gathered before participants climbed into decorative floats and stylish convertibles.
Crowds lined the streets, cheering on as folklorico dancers, high school cheer teams, mariachi bands, and elected officials — including Supervisor Hilda Solis, Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, Senator Maria Elena Durazo, and Mayor Karen Bass — made their way down the avenue.
Israel Jara, 30, from Downey and Pico Rivera, attended the Eastside celebration for the first time. Wearing a Mexico-themed jersey and a keffiyeh around his neck, he said it was important for him and his family to be here, especially amid the recent ICE raids.
“I am a product of immigrants. My father is an immigrant; he immigrated here when he was fourteen years old,” he said.
Jara’s father lived in East L.A. for many years, making the parade feel like both a celebration and an act of solidarity for the family, who sat beside him in lawn chairs along Kern Avenue.
“Especially in times like these when our communities are being under attack. It’s very, very important that people of color come together and unite and really celebrate their culture and where they come from,” Jara said.
Along the parade route, Dulce Flores and Angie Portillo were busy braiding hair under a colorful canopy with a sign that read: “Make Braids Not Raids.”
The duo runs Somoslasboth and Ponte Your Moños — two grassroots initiatives supporting families affected by ICE. Their pop-up at the parade serves as a donation-based fundraiser, with all proceeds going to those impacted by ICE raids.
For Portillo, 42, of Santa Ana, braiding is more than a hairstyle — it’s a statement
“We are doing braids as a way of resistance, a way of protest and also to have funds for the community affected by the [ICE] raids,” she said.
A first-timer at the parade, Portillo beamed with pride as she watched the floats go by.
“For me, it’s everything. I feel very proud to be Mexican. I didn’t know how to write or was born here. Being here and supporting the community, for me, it’s an honor,” she said.
Also in attendance was Robin Kremen, 67, of Fairfax, who came to support the Mexican-American community. Holding up a miniature Mexican flag and a sign that read “Trump Must Go Now,” Kremen said it was her daughter who brought her out to the festivities
“It’s been such a difficult year. As you can see, I’m not a Trump supporter, and I’ve been trying to contribute as a Los Angeles citizen to protect immigrants in Los Angeles,” she said. “My grandparents were immigrants. I believe this country was built by immigrants, and I support the immigrant community.”
As floats passed and music filled the air, Kremen felt embraced by the crowd.
“We don’t live in this district, but we support this community, and we want to experience and celebrate their culture,” she said.
Mexican Independence Day officially falls on Sept. 16, but celebrations took place across Southern California over the weekend — some canceled due to fears of ICE presence.
Tensions were especially high after the Supreme Court lifted a temporary block of “roving patrols” in Los Angeles last week. Organizers had previously told Boyle Heights Beat they coordinated with multiple local leaders and law enforcement, including LAPD and the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, to ensure safety.
This year’s parade, which stepped off from N. Mednik Avenue before making its way down E. Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, carried the theme, “Tradition, Education and Achievement,” with Mexican-American engineer and former NASA astronaut José M. Hernández serving as grand marshal.
