To say that 2017 was a challenging year for the Latino community, would be an understatement. From the anti-immigration rhetoric and actions felt by those in the United States, to the natural disasters suffered by the citizens of Mexico and Puerto Rico and the political instability in Venezuela, 2017 is a year many would like to forget. Yet, there were those moments, in which resolve was on full display, heroes rose and community came together in an unprecedented manner. These moments provided much needed inspiration and hope and sometimes that is exactly what you need. Here are some of the most inspirational Latino cultural moments of 2017.
A Day Without an Immigrants
On February 16, 2017, businesses in cities across the U.S. locked their doors and posted signs in their windows that said not only “closed” but also a “#daywithoutimmigrants,” the latter the mantra of the movement of solidarity by which immigrant and non-immigrant workers alike participated in a day of abstention from work.
The purpose? The action was part of a growing movement of strikes and boycotts intended to demonstrate displeasure with the current U.S. administration and its policies – by hitting them where it hurts – the economy. The protest called for immigrants, whether naturalized citizens or undocumented, to stay home from work or school, close their businesses and abstain from shopping. The protest began in a very viral nature spreading predominantly on social media channels such as Facebook and apps like WhatsApp. Yet, if you think it was just a local movement think again, it reverberated through the halls of Washington, as it was reported by the New York Times, that the Pentagon told its employees to expect longer waits for most supporting services as result of the boycott, to institutions of education in Austin and Los Angeles, as many schools in these regions a drop in attendance on the day to the streets of New York City, where many marched in Union Square for the cause. Ahh…. the power of organizing.
This sign says it all. #DayWithoutImmigrants pic.twitter.com/lFEKLoo3GS
— Brian Krassenstein🐬 (@krassenstein) February 16, 2017
The Hispanic Congressional Caucus Protests ICE
March saw U.S. Representative Luis Gutierrez help stage a sit-in at the regional office of the Immigration Customs and Enforcement agency, once again to protest the Trump administration’s increased targeting of undocumented immigrants for deportation.
The genesis of the sit-in was the failure of ICE to provide an adequate response as to whether they would conduct immigration raids on churches and schools, locations long considered to be off limits to such tactics. What started on an early Monday morning, lasted into the afternoon, even in the face of arrest, the congressman and protesters refused to budge, however, eventually voluntarily ended the sit-in with Rep. Gutierrez telling reporters “We stood up to the bullies here…Unfortunately, tonight and tomorrow they will continue to prey on very vulnerable, defenseless people in their homes in the darkness of the night.”
Judge Insulted by Trump Lands Deportation Case
What can only be coined as a pure karmic event, in April of this year Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who was born in the U.S. but is of Mexican heritage, was assigned to hear the case of a man who claims he was improperly deported. Why is this so special? Well in 2016 POTUS himself attacked Judge Curiel during the Presidential campaign. Specifically, over his handling of a lawsuit against Trump University claiming Curiel could not impartially hear the case because of his background.
Now, assigned to hear the case of Juan Manuel Montes Bojorquez, whose attorneys allege was deported from California to Mexico earlier this year despite having active protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The lawsuit became something of a lightning rod in the current administration’s immigration policy. And that is why we like to call it pure karma.
The Despacito Effect
With the plethora of year end stories, were sure you’ve heard this year’s rise in Latin music perhaps referred to as the “Despacito effect.” We like to think that the rest of the world finally caught on to how banging our cultura’s music and artists are. 2017 saw mainstream artists collaborating to catch the wave, but also new and established Latino artists reach new heights. Beyonce teamed with J. Balvin on “Mi Gente”, British pop group Little Mix teamed up with CNCO on “Reggaeton Lento” and of course the mother of all collabs Justin Beiber got down with Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee on the ubiquitous summer anthem “Despacito”, which had folks from China to Italy singing along. Aside from the collabs there were a slew of millennial stars that had breakthrough years such as Camila Cabello, Becky G and Cardi B, to those who came of age such as Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez. And let’s not forget the gents. Artists like Residente, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Romeo Santos continued their can’t miss trajectories and offered some much-needed inspiration and escape from the ills of 2017.
People Pitch in for Puerto Rico & Mexico
September saw some the worst natural disasters on record devastate Latin America and the Caribbean. A 7.1 earthquake caused damage in the Mexican states of Puebla and Morelos and in the Greater Mexico City area, including the collapse of more than 40 buildings and thousands injured. If that were not enough within weeks Hurricane Maria struck the Caribbean in what has come to be regarded as the worst natural disaster on record in Dominica and Puerto Rico, with a death toll now over 500 and much of Puerto Rico still without electricity or running water.
Yet, if any silver lining can be gleaned from these tragedies it was the outpouring of support both the Mexican and Puerto Rican communities at home and abroad. Donations poured in, celebrities used their platforms to establish relief initiatives both local and charity benefits to raise funds by those affected hit the ground running.
Unity March for Puerto Rico
Speaking of relief efforts, on November 19th thousands of citizens travelled to Washington D.C. to participate in a march organized by activists to bring attention to said efforts and the failures of the government in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
Entitled the “Unity March for Puerto Rico” the goals of the march were straight forward – a repeal of the Jones Act, forgive the island’s debt and a new plan to rebuild Puerto Rico. Beginning at the steps of the Capitol Building a procession proceeded to the Lincoln Memorial and made for a day filled with music, camaraderie and faces chanting slogans against the Jones Act, the debt, and in support of the Puerto Rican people. Political and star power were on hand in the form of U.S. Representatives Luis Gutierrez, Adriano Espaillat, Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda and icon Rita Moreno as well as a video message sent by Carmen Yulín Cruz, the mayor of San Juan.
The march was successful in bringing media attention to the continued struggles of the island and letting the residents of Puerto Rico know they have not been forgotten.
With 2017 almost in the books, we look forward to displaying even greater resolve, fostering an even greater sense of community and finding some more heroes in 2018.