“There you eat tacos and tortas” is the simple description that 10-year-old Emmanuel Salomé gave about his understanding of what it means to be Mexican.
Emmanuel, along with his six-year-old sister Aileen, held a tricolor flag as they enjoyed the 78th Annual Mexican Independence Day Parade in East Los Angeles.
More than 30,000 people, Mexican and Mexican-American families, gathered on the sidewalks of César Chávez Avenue to commemorate the historic feat of the Grito de Independencia by the priest Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, in the town of Dolores, Guanajuato, at the beginning of Mexico’s emancipation from the Spanish yoke that lasted for more than 300 years.
“Mexico is pride, it is flavor in its gastronomy, it is the celebration of the Day of the Dead and it is a rich culture,” said Isabel Saldívar, a woman from Puebla and mother of the children.
The patriotism of Mexicans is sui generis. They celebrated, even knowing that the country is bleeding from the struggles of the dozens of drug cartels that dominate a large part of the national territory.
According to Forbes magazine, homicides in Mexico rose 5.07% in June 2024.
In fact, the head of the Secretariat of Public Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), Rosa Icela Rodríguez, reported 15,110 murders recorded between January and June, just 27 less than the 15,137 in the first six months of 2023.
“To the outgoing president AMLO [Andrés Manuel López Obrador] “We appreciate that he wanted to correct the mess that he had to live in and that he inherited from the PRI and the PAN,” Saul Pavana, from Mexico City, who was present at the parade, told Real America News. “He tried to end corruption and he charged taxes to the richest, but he failed to provide an effective response against drug traffickers and the thousands of dead.”
Mexico is carried in the skin
The history of the parade in East Los Angeles, considered the largest celebration of Mexicans abroad, is an annual celebration of Mexican culture and history in the United States.
The first parade was held in 1946, and was organized and administered by the Mexican Civic Patriotic Committee, which has become a tradition.
“Mexican roots are deep within us and it is a source of pride to be Mexican, because that word represents our traditions, our history, our culture and our folklore, and our vision is to preserve those traditions,” said José Duarte, president of the committee.
Duarte, a native of Sinaloa, considered that the political, social and economic reality of his “beloved” Mexico is similar to the era before the assassination of the PRI candidate for the presidency of that nation: Luis Donaldo Colosio (on March 23, 1994, in Lomas Taurinas de Tijuana).
“Even though social programs are being implemented in Mexico, I see a Mexico that is hungry and thirsty for justice; perhaps with some relief for the poorest, but economically for the rest, it remains the same… corruption has not ended in Mexico, and neither has nepotism.”
Amid cries of “Viva México!” or “Long live Mexico!” and striving to honor their history and culture, groups of Aztec dancers, representatives of folklore and feminine beauty from various states of the Mexican Republic, gave a special color to the celebration, from the starting point of the parade, at the intersection of Mednik Street and César Chávez Avenue.
Hope for the future of Mexico
Before the parade began, the Consul General of Mexico in Los Angeles, Carlos González Gutiérrez, stressed that the celebration gives a lot of hope for the future due to the strong ties and sense of belonging that people have to two countries: Mexico and the United States.
“Most of those who take part in the parade were born here and are aware that this is the heritage they inherited from their parents and that they should pass it on to their sons and daughters,” said the diplomat.
I believe that Mexicanness should be cultivated.
“That is the responsibility of all of us, those of us who have sons and daughters and are Mexican; we must be proud of our culture and make sure that they learn to celebrate it, that they learn to feel proud of themselves and their roots… Only those who ignore Mexican culture are capable of despising it.”
And, in light of the imminent departure from power of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and the historic ascension to Los Pinos of the president-elect, Claudia Sheinbaum, the consul told Real America News: “It is great news, it is a great step in history that Mexico joins the countries where gender equality reaches the highest level. It should make us proud and be a source of satisfaction for all of us,” he said.
Recognition from President Joe Biden
José Duarte, president of the Mexican Civic Patriotic Committee, received a letter and a recognition of community service from Francisca Mendoza, director of the Foundation for the Human Rights of Migrants in California, sent by the President of the United States, Joe Biden, on the theme of the parade: “Mexican Heritage.”
“The endless contributions of the Fiestas Patrias have filled us with extremely important and historic memories in Los Angeles, where each migrant reflects a hero and a heroine,” Mendoza said during the formal ceremony at the Kipp Iluminary Academy on César Chávez Avenue.
Biden’s letter reads: “The American story depends not just on one person, but on everyone. I congratulate the Mexican Civic Patriotic Committee for contributing to the righteous reason for community service for the good of the community. I am proud to present the Presidential Medal of Community Service.”
“By sharing your time and passion, you help create solutions to our greatest challenges. We are living in times that call for hope, light, love and homeland.”
And, “on behalf of the American people, our future, and the light to guide us forward, thank you for your service on behalf of the American people…I encourage you to continue to answer the call to serve your country.”
Although the 78th annual independence parade was held in East Los Angeles, the history of the Comité Mexicano Cívico Patriótico Mexicano dates back to 1931, from the essential contribution to its founding, led by the then Mexican ambassador, Rafael de la Colina Riquelme (1898-1996).