‘A guerrera for southern Arizona’: Grijalva celebrates a “People’s Swearing-In” ceremony

TUCSON – The “People’s Swearing-In” ceremony for U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-AZ, on Saturday became both a community celebration and a platform to condemn the recent immigration enforcement activity in Tucson and other parts of southern Arizona, where several community members, including the congresswoman, were pepper-sprayed by agents just the day before. 

Grijalva, the first Latina from Arizona to serve in Congress, held the event at Pueblo High School, located in the neighborhood where she grew up, surrounded by hundreds of supporters, students and community leaders.

Grijalva, who was officially sworn into office in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 12, said it was important that the people who helped her get to Congress could witness the occasion.

“This is my alma mater, Pueblo High School. I graduated from here — it’s in the heart of the neighborhood that helped raise me,” she said. “I literally grew up three blocks away. My daughter graduated from this school. My sons attend this school. I feel very connected to this place. To have a swearing-in in front of the people who helped me get to D.C. is the most important thing.”

Native American leaders began the ceremony with prayers and blessings. Pascua Yaqui Tribe Chairman Julián Hernández delivered a welcome message and introduced Tohono O’odham Nation Vice Chairwoman Johnson and Chairman Verlon M. José, who performed a cleansing ritual with a giant feather. They were followed by the Apache Stronghold, led by Wendsler Nosie Sr., who offered a blessing song.

On behalf of the Apache Stronghold, the daughter of a former Apache leader addressed Grijalva: “You will be carrying on a legacy. You will be the voice for the First Nations — the first people of this country — and you will tell the truth about what has happened to our people. This is a time for us to unite, and I know you will carry that forward.”

After the blessings, Pueblo High School’s Mariachi Aztlán performed the national anthem with Grijalva’s daughter, Adelina Gómez Grijalva, followed by folklórico dancers waving colorful skirts.

Before Rep. Grijalva took the stage, Raul Grijalva-Gómez, her older son, recognized his courageous mother and expressed his pride.

“My courageous, my loving mother… I am so proud of my mom, and she never, ever falters in being the greatest mother to me, my brother Joaquín and my sister Adelina,” he said, honoring the first Latina and Chicana from Arizona to sit in Congress.

Grijalva-Gómez then welcomed the next generation to the stage, including members of several student organizations and aspiring Latino lawyers from Pueblo High School. Student Council member Amy Aldana then led the swearing-in oath.

“I, Adelita Grijalva, promise to serve my community with honesty, courage, and corazón — to listen to all voices, protect the dignity of every person and lead with humility in partnership with the people I represent,” she proclaimed.

“I am standing here today because of that legacy. A legacy rooted in people power, en la máquina del pueblo, in the belief that justice is worth fighting for every single day,” she said, addressing the crowd, reflecting on her father’s legacy and the values that guide her work..

“As your representative, I will carry that same commitment — standing up for working families, protecting our public schools, defending reproductive freedom, supporting tribal sovereignty, safeguarding our environment and water, pushing for fair trade that helps, not harms, communities, and fighting for our democracy and our rights. And also fighting to make sure Arizona gets the federal resources it deserves.”

“You didn’t send me to Washington to be quiet… You sent me to be a fighter. I am a warrior, a guerrerafor southern Arizona.”

Praised for her fighting spirit

Present at the event were Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-AZ, who took a moment to honor her father, the late Raúl Grijalva, the former representative of Arizona’s 7th Congressional District who passed away in March.

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero reflected on her long history of working with Grijalva and also honored her late father, the late Raul Grijalva.

“Present in my mind is [the late] Raul Grijalva… he is so proud of you,” Romero said and applauded the fact that she remained committed to fighting for her constituents. “We need to stand together in this fight… for our public schools, for public jobs, for our public lands. I will never stop fighting for the rights, the dignity and the safety of everyone in our community.”

“I know everyone knows she is my comadre, but you are a Congresswoman, and I am so proud that we’ve been in this [fight] together,” she said.

Kelly also highlighted Grijalva’s commitment to her constituents and her determination to stand up for the community.

“We saw it yesterday — she was out there fighting for us and she was pepper-sprayed for it. That is unacceptable. It shouldn’t happen in this country. But it will not slow her down. I know she’s not going to back down from anybody. That’s why I’m so proud to have her represent me and my family in the United States House of Representatives, he concluded. “She is, without a doubt, the right Congresswoman for this moment and for this community. Congratulations, Adelita. I’m looking forward to everything we’re going to do together.” 

Addressing the raid directly, Grijalva said she and her team plan to request an investigation into the ICE actions at Taco Giro, one of several restaurants raided on Friday by federal agents.

“We happened to come upon what was essentially an ICE raid at one of my favorite restaurants in town. I didn’t know what was happening, so I went to inquire,” she recalled. “Part of my job is oversight and I want to understand what’s happening. It’s one thing to see a video on the news and a very different thing to look into the eyes of ICE agents treating people that way. There is a healthy distrust of this administration. Whether this is a legitimate investigation or not, we don’t know — and there’s no trust in this community.”

She closed with gratitude and promised to continue the fight for the people who have uplifted her and her family: “Thank you for being here, for trusting me, for believing in me, and for standing with me and my family in the hardest time of our lives. This community lifted us when we needed it the most, and I will never forget that. This People’s Swearing-In belongs to you, the seat belongs to you, and every vote I take, every bill I introduce, every fight I take on will be with you in my heart. ¡Adelante mi gente! Let’s make history together. ¡Sí se puede!”

Dawn Page (she/her; Latine) is a freelance writer for CALÓ News. She grew up on the U.S.-Mexico border between Douglas, Arizona, and Agua Prieta, Sonora. She recently earned a Master’s in Bilingual Journalism from the University of Arizona. Her reporting focuses on immigration, borderlands issues, lifestyle, business and entertainment.