I want to address the current situation in Los Angeles, as I’m concerned that some people may be fearful about what’s happening in L.A. and are canceling trips here.
BoominginLA.com was created out of my longtime love of Los Angeles. However, our beautiful city has been invaded by ICE agents who have been acting as bounty hunters. They are masked and refuse to show identification. According to police, badges protect officers from harm by those who feel threatened by them. ICE is here on orders from our current President, who purposely wants to incite unrest.
They are brutal, violent, and acting like the Nazi Gestapo. ICE has interrupted student graduations, manhandled pregnant women, new mothers, and the elderly, left young children alone without their parents, and kidnapped people at their immigration appointments who were trying to do the right thing.
Protests in Los Angeles have been mostly peaceful. Some rocks and bottles were thrown when ICE suddenly shot into the crowd with rubber bullets and pepper spray to disperse them. The protestors were exercising their First Amendment rights, and there were over 5 million of them in cities across the nation on “No Kings Day.” You don’t get that many people excited to protest unless something has upset them terribly.
L.A.’s diversity makes Los Angeles great!
Los Angeles takes pride in its diversity and rich cultural heritage. California was once part of Mexico, so it’s no surprise we have a large population of Chicano and Latino residents. However, people from many other lands have immigrated here.
The original name of Los Angeles was El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula, and Mexican culture is evident throughout the city.
Neighborhood pockets of our city are dedicated to ethnic groups that include Mexicans, Koreans, Samoans, Thais, Russians, Armenians, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Bangladeshis, Indians, Africans, Pacific Islanders, and others. Each has unique cuisines, cultural events, and religious practices. Without them, our city would be bland, white bread, and boring.
Immigrant fear is real!
If you think you are afraid of immigrants, they are more fearful of you.
Housekeepers and gardeners are hiding in their homes. Taco vendors, car wash employees, auto repair shop workers, Home Depot day laborers, Disneyland staff, and even Dodger Stadium have been raided. These people, although they may be here illegally, are not the criminals the government promised to remove.
The administration was supposed to focus on Cartel and gang members, but so far, they are meeting unreasonable quotas by picking up anyone who is brown. Many immigrants pay taxes, contribute to our economy, and only want to better their lives.
The brutality has been horrendous
One elderly woman who is a food vendor was pushed around and even stripped by ICE. What kind of human being would do that?
A young woman in Louisiana who was five months pregnant was pushed to the ground and then put into detention. She knew something was wrong with her baby and pleaded for three days to get medical care. Her baby died in the womb due to the harsh treatment she received.
Nursing newborns have been ripped from their mothers’ arms, and an elderly man with three sons currently in the Marines was assaulted and injured by ICE.
It is only getting worse. Authoritarian governments often pick a scapegoat to create fear in the populace. During WWII, it was Jews, and now it is the Latino population. I don’t believe most Americans voted for this.
These people are being disappeared to foreign countries they barely or never lived in, and detained in American concentration camps.
Educate yourself about immigrants
The President has called immigrants criminals, murderers, and rapists. That is far from the truth. Farmworkers feed us, construction workers build our homes, garment workers clothe us, and caregivers take care of us when we are sick. I could go on and on.
I’ve attended many performances at CASA 0101 Theater in Boyle Heights, a mostly Chicano neighborhood in East L.A. Almost every play I’ve seen there has given me insight into the immigrant experience in Los Angeles. It was founded by Josefina Lopez, who recently had a play on Broadway that originated at CASA 0101 called “Real Women Have Curves.”
Boyle Heights is reputed to be a gangbanger community, but nothing can be further from the truth. It is a colorful, family-oriented neighborhood with a rich history and a gorgeous, hidden park with an urban lake. The theater, whose auditorium was named for activist-politician Gloria Molina, is directly across the street from the Hollenbeck Police Department.
There are gangs in any big city, but gang violence has been reduced significantly in recent years.
Another way to learn more about cultures outside of the United States is to travel.
Rick Steves writes, “Travel connects us face to face with reality. It’s not virtual. It’s not through a viewfinder. Travel is candid, honest — being in the moment. In a world hungry for authenticity, we yearn for connection. Travelers connect with different cultures, different people. On the road, strangers are just “friends we’ve yet to meet.” Travel frees us from routine. It creates room for serendipity; serendipity leads to connections. Travel forces us to bend and to flex. It makes us more tolerant and inspires us to celebrate diversity.”
The media is out of control
Media outlets are sensationalizing the unrest in Los Angeles and other large cities. Most of it is bunk. Los Angeles is an amazing city with perfect weather and endless things to do and enjoy. Be wary of what you are watching and listening to in the media and online. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is spreading like wildfire, making fake news look credible.
I recommend downloading the Ground News app. It shows you which articles lean left or right, so you can make your own decisions on what is true or not. You can also choose topics that interest you.
Another news source for those who love a sense of humor is Morning Brew. Balanced news articles are delivered daily to your inbox. It also includes fun games and puzzles.
Please stand up and support Los Angeles immigrants and those throughout the United States. They not only belong here, but they also contribute to making America truly great.
Leave your prejudice at the door if you are visiting Los Angeles, or please stay home.
I hardly ever believe what they try to sell us.