Latest news with #SummerBlockParty
Time Out
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Time Out
July 4th celebrations in LA County are being canceled due to ICE raid concerns
This Independence Day, the sky over Los Angeles might be quieter than usual—and not just because of the new drone shows. A wave of Fourth of July cancellations and postponements is sweeping across Los Angeles County, as fears mount over increased federal immigration raids in sanctuary communities. What would've been a fireworks-filled Friday night at Gloria Molina Grand Park in downtown L.A. has been put on hold. Organizers of the beloved Summer Block Party announced they're postponing the event 'out of an abundance of caution,' citing safety concerns tied to recent ICE enforcement activity across the city. The park's Instagram assured Angelenos the party will return later this summer, just not with red, white and blue confetti this week. The ripple effect doesn't stop there. East LA's Rockin' 4th of July bash is canceled, the Summer Movies & Concerts series at Schabarum Park is postponed and the annual Independence Day parade in El Sereno has been shelved, despite historically drawing more than 1,200 marchers. In cities like Bell Gardens, Huntington Park and Cudahy—where Latino communities make up the overwhelming majority—concerts, fireworks and family movie nights have all been called off. 'Events in public spaces feel dangerous for our constituents,' Los Angeles city councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, who represents District 14, told ABC7. 'This is not the time to host large public gatherings because people are afraid.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gloria Molina Grand Park (@grandpark_la) Those fears aren't unfounded. In recent weeks, ICE activity has intensified under President Trump's reinstated hardline immigration policy, with raids reported across California's urban centers. Critics say the crackdown is sowing panic in immigrant-heavy neighborhoods, prompting many residents to avoid any public space, let alone large celebrations. '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,' Jordan Escobar, who lives in East Los Angeles, told KTLA. 'So I get why people are refraining [from celebrating].' For now, the few public events still on include the Rose Bowl's alternative celebration in Pasadena—complete with drone show, no explosives. But for many Angelenos, this year's Fourth won't feel like much of a party.
Hindustan Times
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
ICE raids impact Fourth of July celebrations in Southern California as multiple events canceled
Multiple regions in Southern California have canceled their July 4 festivities in light of increasing immigration raids in the neighborhood by federal authorities. This change is mainly visible in culturally rich communities of the region. Here's a look at some of the Fourth of July events in SoCal that have been canceled or postponed: Multiple Fourth of July events in SoCal have been canceled or postponed due to intensified immigration raids As per the event's official website, the summer event has been postponed 'in light of recent events affecting a portion of Downtown LA'. 'We are committed to bringing our community together for this beloved summer celebration and are actively working to reschedule the event. We thank you for your patience and will announce the new date for Gloria Molina Grand Park's Summer Block Party in the coming weeks,' the website further added. The party was initially scheduled for 4 PM to 9:30 PM local time this Friday (July 4). A majoritarian Hispanic settlement, officials in Cudahy announced that they would be 'postponing the Independence Day Celebration on July 3rd, 2025, due to safety concerns'. However, city parks will remain open, and regular programming will continue as scheduled. Bell Gardens The community of Bell Gardens, located on the outskirts of Cudahy, has canceled a concert and two movie screenings 'out of an abundance of caution regarding concerns for resident safety over federal immigration enforcement activities.' Events scheduled to happen between June 24 and July 10 now stand canceled as part of this measure. Other programming, such as summer day camp, and sports will continue as scheduled. Huntington Park Although no reason was provided for the same, Huntington Park's July 3 celebration now stands canceled. El Sereno Another predominantly Hispanic community, El Sereno, has called off its July 4 celebration which included an annual parade. "Our participation is usually robust with over 1,200 people marching in the parade. The people who participate in the parade are some of the most patriotic people you would meet. They believe in the promise of this land, of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,' noted the El Sereno Bicentennial Committee to ABC7 Los Angeles. 'This year we will have to cancel our celebrations. We stand with our community. The safety of our participants, spectators, and volunteers is at the forefront.' LA City Council District 14 The LA City Council District 14, a primarily Hispanic region in East LA, has now canceled or postponed all its July 4 festivities as revealed to the Boyle Heights Beats by a spokesperson for Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado. '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. So I get why people are refraining [from celebrating]. I believe it's important to voice our opinions,' said East Los Angeles resident Jordan Escobar to KTLA 5. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena will still have its annual public event as part of July 4 festivities although they will be switching fireworks for drones instead. By Stuti Gupta
The Hill
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
More California July 4th events canceled due to immigration raids
(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 Nexstar's 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.'
