Mexican Independence Day Parade in East LA was a display of unity and acts of resilience

The annual Mexican Independence Day Parade that took place this past Saturday in East Los Angeles was filled with messages of unity and resilience. 

During the opening ceremony, city and community leaders highlighted the importance of the Latino community in the face of the growing fear of raids and attacks against immigrants.

Los Angeles Supervisor Hilda Solis joined the parade for the last time as the representative of District 1, which includes East L.A., due to term limits. She said she was proud to celebrate Mexico’s culture, music and tradition in the beauty of Los Angeles and its community. 

“Since June (2025), a lot of our families in East L.A. have faced very difficult moments — many are still working to recover,” she said. “But this community, as you know, is very strong. When there are difficult moments, we help and support each other and move forward together.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass thanked Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez, consul general of Mexico in Los Angeles, not just for being a host in the parade, but also for the opportunity to work hand-in-hand on several issues, especially when it came to the attacks against the immigrant community who call L.A. home. 

She promised to continue fighting for the immigrant community against anyone who tries to divide them.

“I’m proud of our city because our city stood together and fought back and said, ‘nowhere, no one will be able to divide us,’” she said. “We understand that our communities have shaped Los Angeles. That our culture is combined with the culture of our neighbors. This is a time when we know that our communities feel unsafe, but I want to guarantee you that we will stand together.” 

The parade, hosted by the Comité Mexicano Cívico Patriótico and the General Consulate of Mexico in Los Angeles, celebrated its 80th edition with the traditional representation of each state of the Mexican Republic. From banda, mariachi and tamborazo in floats of all sizes to traditional dances, equestrian units and cultural outfits, the parade portrayed the pride of past, present and future generations. 

Gutierrez welcomed all participants and thanked Solis for her last big move before leaving her role as supervisor of Los Angeles County. 

“The supervisor will donate $50,000 to the Alas Scholarship fund. These $50,000 translate into monetary help to 50 Mexican, Mexican American and Latino students of the L.A. area,” said Gutierrez. 

Artist Anna Sutton from Honeydrop Gallery said that she was thrilled to be part of the guests displaying and selling their art during the parade, especially as a representative of younger Mexicans.

“We are here representing our cultura,” she said. “I represent 200 artists in L.A. and I kind of understand what the director wants and I bring that kind of vibe to the space.”

And the artists didn’t disappoint with cultural paintings that ranged from colorful pieces to luchadores, animals and other iconic pieces that represent Mexican traditions.

A group with a special pledge

Close to the start of the parade there were several members of Protect Now LA, a group of residents who live in the vicinity of the Lineage cold storage warehouse in Boyle Heights, which caught fire in June and left locals dealing with a number of health and environmental concerns.

Despite local authorities promising that toxic levels have not increased, residents said they are experiencing something completely different.

Maria Morales, one of the members, said they asked the organizers if they could march with their signs in the parade and were denied. That’s why they decided to stand along the route, holding up their signs for all passersby to see.

“The message to Congress members and local leaders that aren’t doing anything to help us… We want to know what burned inside,” she said. “We need healthcare exams because we will get sick eventually and people will die because of this situation.”

Another member said they feel they have become invisible to elected officials and want Lineage out of the neighborhood. 

A successful parade

This year the Comité Mexicano Cívico Patriótico also celebrated its 95th anniversary. 

The committee was founded in 1931 when a group of Mexicans decided to join forces to experience the Mexican tradition and culture outside of Mexico. The objective was to preserve Mexico’s customs and traditions.

A few years later, they created the Mexican Independence Day parade, which has been taking place every year along César Chávez Boulevard for eight decades. 

The parade was televised on ABC7, as its done every year.