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NBC News
04-07-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Broadacres Marketplace in Las Vegas on June 26. The market announced it would be temporary closed, with no reopening date set. Mikayla Whitmore for NBC News Immigration ICE shut down this Latino market — without even showing up Fear of immigration raids pushed the organizers of the Broadacres Marketplace in Las Vegas to temporarily close, shuttering a place at the heart of the city's Latino community.
July 3, 2025, 7:00 AM EDT By Denise Chow Listen to this article / NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. — On a typical weekend, 20,000 people stream through the metal gates at Broadacres Marketplace, thronging the aisles of the outdoor 'swap meet' to hunt for the best deals, savor snacks and sip micheladas under the desert sky. Until late June, Broadacres' familiar bustle had cemented its place as the heart of this city's Latino community. That has been replaced with an eerie quiet. Hundreds of booths stand barren behind a chain-link fence, mostly stripped to their skeletal remains and covered in fabric or tarp. Save for one security guard at the main gate, there's no one in sight. Broadacres Marketplace announced that it would temporarily close on June 21 because of the threat of raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In a statement online, the market's management said the decision to close was made 'out of an abundance of caution and concern for our community.' Broadacres' owner, Greg Danz, is president and CEO of Newport Diversified Inc., a company that also owns two other swap meets in California. 'We don't want any of our customers, vendors, or employees to be detained at our business or for us to be a beacon of shopping and entertainment while our federal government is raiding businesses and detaining its people,' the statement read, adding that management does not yet have a planned date to reopen. Over the past six months, the Trump administration has implemented aggressive immigration policies and enforcement, detaining and deporting tens of thousands of people since it took office. The mass deportation efforts have sparked protests nationwide and laid bare how devastating the arrests — and the fear of them — are in cities across the country. After Donald Trump campaigned on the promise to deport swaths of violent criminals, a small fraction of undocumented immigrants in ICE custody are known violent actors. Half of those in detention have neither been convicted nor charged with a crime, according to ICE data. Latinos, in particular, have been a prime target, heightening fears in the community, including among those who have legal status. The only other time in its nearly 50-year history that the swap meet closed for an extended time was for a few months in 2020 during the pandemic, according to two longtime vendors. Rico Ocampo, whose family has been selling goods at Broadacres for more than 20 years, said his parents financially rely on the swap meet. 'As a family, we're facing questions like: What are we going to do about the mortgage payment, with groceries? How are we going to recover from this?' he said. Ocampo, 34, said other vendors are most likely facing the same anxieties, while also managing real fears that they or their loved ones could get swept up in ICE raids. Earlier in June, ICE made arrests at the Santa Fe Spring Swap Meet in Southern California, which is under the same ownership as Broadacres, according to NBC Los Angeles. That has created fears that something similar could play out in Nevada. ICE and DHS have not responded to NBC News' requests for comment on the flea market raids. 'When you hurt local businesses, you hurt the local community,' Ocampo said. 'When people are afraid to go to work or participate in daily life or share in community spaces like Broadacres, the whole community feels it. It's not just undocumented people; it's their children, their families, the customers who rely on those businesses to purchase items.' Assemblymember Cecelia González, D-Las Vegas, who is chair of the Nevada Latino Legislative Caucus, called the Broadacres closure a 'huge disruption.' 'It's an economic emergency for hundreds of entrepreneurs — immigrant and nonimmigrant,' she said, adding that it is happening as the area is also dealing with the rising cost of living and one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Las Vegas isn't alone in grappling with these tensions. Most major cities with big immigrant populations are facing similar issues, including in Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami. Broadacres Marketplace opened in 1977 and over the years has evolved from a small weekend flea market into a sprawling hub of shopping, food and live entertainment. The swap meet and its vast parking lot now cover more than 40 acres of land in suburban North Las Vegas. Open Friday through Sunday, Broadacres is a staple in the Latino community, but its popularity extends across the Las Vegas Valley. Of the nearly 2.4 million people who live in Clark County, which includes the cities of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, 32.1% identify as Hispanic or Latino, according to 2024 data from the U.S. Census Bureau. 'It doesn't matter the color of your skin, it doesn't matter what nationality you are, it doesn't matter how old you are, there's something for you,' said Jessica Vasquez, an artist, photographer and activist who grew up in Las Vegas and has been frequenting Broadacres for more than 40 years. Justin Favela, a 38-year-old artist who was born and raised in Las Vegas, has also been shopping at Broadacres since the 1980s. He said that throughout its history, the swap meet was a place where members of the Latino community felt safe and comfortable. It was also one of the only spots in the Las Vegas area where people could find items from their birth countries. 'Back in the day in Las Vegas, it was really hard to get fresh coconuts or banana leaves or certain fruits and vegetables,' Favela said. 'Whenever it was holiday times, I remember, we would go and stock up on things that my mom couldn't get at the regular grocery store.' As an adult, Favela said, he has been going to Broadacres at least once a month and was most recently there the night before the closure was announced. He recalled feeling something was amiss that Friday evening. Crowds in recent weeks had already been noticeably thinner, Favela said, particularly after the raid at the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet. 'First of all, it was easy to find parking, which is never the case,' Favela said. 'Then when I went in, it was maybe a quarter of the people who are usually there. And there was no live music. I knew something was way off.' Ocampo said he and his family were painfully aware of ICE activity around the country, but the decision to close Broadacres still caught them off-guard. Vendors were not given notice, with staff members allegedly going booth to booth the morning of June 21 to inform people that the market would be closing that day. Broadacres management did not respond to requests for comment.. 'I received a text message from family that morning at around 10 a.m. saying Broadacres was going to close,' Ocampo said. 'I thought the worst. I was thinking: Is there an ICE raid happening? What is going on?' Ocampo's parents, who spoke on the condition of anonymity and did not want to publicly disclose their immigration statuses for fear of reprisals, said the images from the California raid hit close to home. The family has lived in the U.S. since 1992. Now, though, in addition to concerns about discrimination and aggressive immigration enforcement, their financial future hangs in the balance. Translating his father's Spanish, Ocampo said not much remains of his parents' booth at Broadacres, where for more than two decades they sold peanuts, pumpkin seeds and various other dry goods. What started as a small peanut stand grew into multiple booths at the swap meet, offering roughly 50 items. One pound of peanuts sold for $3, two pounds for $5, he said. A small wheel of dry cheese marinated in a spicy rub fetched $25, while a larger one sold for $40. His bestseller? A type of squash seed known as semilla pipianera that can be eaten raw or roasted, or ground up to make a green mole. For now, Ocampo's parents are doing what they can to sell their products out of their home. A social media post after the Broadacres closure drummed up some support and sent more than 100 customers to the residence in one day. But relying on social media and word of mouth is unsustainable long term, Ocampo said. Many of his father's ingredients are imported from other states or countries, and he is forced to buy them in large quantities. In the back of the property, a temperature-controlled storage room houses pallets stacked with dozens of 50-pound bags of raw peanuts purchased from Texas. In another corner, giant sacks of pumpkin seeds from Bulgaria are kept dry, ready to be toasted for customers. Baggies of boiled peanuts are kept in an industrial fridge — Ocampo's father said those will be first to go to waste if Broadacres remains closed. The possibility that the swap meet could stay closed indefinitely is devastating, Ocampo said. 'It has left their business, and other immigrant vendors and small-business owners, without the critical income that they need to survive during the busiest sales period,' he said. Beyond adding financial instability, González, the assemblymember, said the Trump administration's immigration policies have used fear to destabilize Latino communities throughout the state. 'Nevada has one of the largest numbers of mixed-status families per capita in the entire country,' she said. 'Many of us know people personally or have family members who have different types of statuses.' González has been vocal in her support for the Broadacres vendors, but for elected officials like her, those statements have come at a price. State Sen. Fabian Doñate, a Democrat whose district includes the Las Vegas Strip, faced major backlash after he engaged in a heated back-and-forth with members of Nevada's Republican Party. The state GOP said June 23 on X about the Broadacres closure: 'If you can't stay open without illegal aliens, you don't deserve to be open at all.' When Doñate responded that Republicans were being 'anti-business' and 'anti-economic development,' the GOP accused him of admitting to having family members who are illegal immigrants, tagging the accounts for ICE, the Department of Homeland Security and its secretary, Kristi Noem, and FBI Director Kash Patel. 'They are trying to distract from the economic crisis that our state is experiencing, and they're not offering solutions,' Doñate said last week of the GOP reaction. 'Instead, they made a personal and direct attack against me and my family.' With no indication of whether, or when, the swap meet will reopen, Ocampo said Broadacres management and local lawmakers could do more to protect vendors and the greater community. 'We want elected officials — especially the ones that represent immigrant communities — to step up to the plate,' Ocampo said. 'I want elected officials to show up for my mother and my father and give us more than tweets, give us more than sentiments or media advisories, because what's happening right now is a threat to Nevada's values, our economy and our families.' Vasquez, the artist and activist who grew up in Las Vegas, said she remains hopeful that the community will bounce back. Denise Chow Denise Chow is a science and space reporter for NBC News.
Hindustan Times
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Pawan Kalyan's Hari Hara Veera Mallu trailer screening cancelled at theatre where Pushpa 2 stampede happened
Jul 03, 2025 01:38 PM IST The much-awaited film Hari Hara Veera Mallu's (HHVM) trailer was launched on Thursday amid fanfare. Directed by Krish and Jyothi Krisna, it stars Pawan Kalyan as the titular outlaw, Veera Mallu. The trailer was launched in numerous theatres across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana with fans thronging to watch it on the big screen. But there's one theatre that missed out. (Also Read: Hari Hara Veera Mallu trailer: Pawan Kalyan fights for dharma; to secure Koh-i-Noor from Bobby Deol's Aurangzeb. Watch) Pawan Kalyan plays an outlaw called Veera Mallu in Hari Hara Veera Mallu. According to a report by 123Telugu, Sandhya Theatre at RTC X Roads in Hyderabad cancelled the screening of HHVM's trailer. After a massive group of fans lined up at the theatre on Wednesday evening to secure a pass for the trailer launch on Thursday morning, the theatre management had to call in police to control the crowd and prevent any unwanted tragedy. The report also posted a picture of a sign put up by the theatre management that reads, 'Hari Hara Veera Mallu trailer cancelled.' The theatre management willingly decided to cancel the screening. The Pushpa 2 stampede incident In December last year, Allu Arjun visited Sandhya Theatre with his family for the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule. The actor left the show midway through after the police told him that the crowd was becoming uncontrollable. His visit sparked a stampede when fans rushed forward to meet him, leaving a woman dead and her young son hospitalised in a critical condition. The actor and the theatre management were arrested for negligence, and he was released on bail. He claimed he had police permission to visit, even as the police claimed otherwise. Arjun apologised for the mishap and paid for the boy's treatment. About HHVM HHVM went on floors in 2020, so fans have been waiting for the film for a long time. It stars Pawan, Bobby Deol, and Nidhhi Agerwal in the lead roles. The film will be released in theatres on 24 July.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Rath Yatra starts with Pahandi Vijay ceremony in Digha
Rath Yatra festival in West Bengal's coastal town of Digha begins amid multiple ceremonies with thousands thronging to Digha from various parts of the state. In the newly constructed Jagannath Dham Temple in Digha, rituals start with Pahandi Vijay on a rainy morning in the beach town. Preparations and rituals for the idols before boarding the chariots have started from 9 am. Although the main ceremony of pulling the chariot is in the afternoon, the special rituals of putting the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra from the temple to the chariot -which is known as Pahandi Vijay started at dawn. Pahandi Vijay is an important ceremony of the Rath Yatra. In this procession, Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and the Sudarshan Chakra are taken from the temple to the chariot amidst musical ceremony and chanting of mantras. This ritual is not only religious, but a medley of devotion, emotion and festivity. Thousands of devotees eagerly wait to see the idols and receive their blessings at this special moment. 'Inauguration will start at 2PM. The Chief Minister will come for the ceremony. There are certain rituals which will take place. With golden broomsticks, the roads will be mopped. Then Rath Yatra will commence at 2.30PM. It is an occasion for great happiness. There is no division between Bhagwan and Bhaktas (devotees). Lakhs of devotees have come from inauguration. There has been economic benefits for all the locals-from hotel businesses to shop owners,' ISKCON Vice-President Radharaman Das said. Live Events It has been raining heavily in Digha but preparations are underway for the chariot procession of the idols. Radharaman Das, also in-charge of organizing the event, said that various religious rituals and festivals will continue till 5 pm, till Jagannath reaches Mashirbari, where the Jagannatha and his siblings reside for seven days Ultarath. Das said, "Rain is the blessing of Jagannath. Rath Yatra means it will rain. In this rain, the common people will get wet and participate in the joy of the festival." On Thursday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on the occasion of the Rath Yatra, "The priests will start the puja from 9 am. The temple will be open for general visitors from 9.30 am. The main idol will remain in the temple and the chariot will be decorated at night. Aarti will be held between 2 pm and 2.30 pm, and the chariot pulling will start at 4.30 pm." She has said, 'To avoid any chaos, the road will be kept clear. Visitors will enjoy the Rath Yatra, standing behind barricades. The ropes of the chariot will be with the barricades, which the visitors will be able to touch. The chariot will stop at some places on the way so that everyone can have darshan.' Overall, the Rath Yatra festival has begun in Digha with a mix of religious emotions, enthusiasm and administrative rigors, and its first step—Pahandi Vijay—has brought a unique feeling to the hearts of the devotees. The newly constructed Jagannath Temple in Digha on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya on April 30. Modelled on Puri Jagannath temple, the Jagannath Dham, has been built at a cost of Rs 250 crore. The temple complex has a 45-foot-high main entry gate. The magnificent complex boasts 108 auspicious steps leading to the sanctum housing the deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. The magnificent structure, constructed using more than 300,000 cubic feet of Bansi Paharpur pink sandstone, from Rajasthan's Banshipaharpur, was completed by 3,000 workers including sculptors, masons, architects, and artisans. The sprawling campus is adorned with extensive theme lawns and over 500 newly planted trees. ISKCON, which is running the temple in Digha's Jagannath Dham, said that Digha Ratha Yatra features three main chariots. Nandighosha (Chariot of Lord Jagannath): 16 wheels, decorated in red and yellow. Taladhwaja (Chariot of Balaram): 14 wheels, adorned in red and blue. Darpadalana (Chariot of Subhadra): 12 wheels, draped in red and black. The charioteer of Lord Jagannath's rath is Daruka, and the pulling rope is known as Shankhachuda. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
