July 4th celebrations in LA County are being canceled due to ICE raid concerns
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.'
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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.
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