Organizers cancel festival due to immigration raid concerns

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hispanic Heritage Month started Monday, but it’s already looking different for some. 

Organizers for an annual celebration in Charlotte canceled their celebration amid the political climate over immigration, fearing the community could be targeted.

Hispanic Heritage Festival of the Carolinas celebrated three annual events at Truist Field in Uptown Charlotte.

Festival co-founder Rick Herrera is also the co-founder of Progreso Hispano News, a Spanish publication. 

“To be able to have a voice for the Latino community is so important, and we take it very seriously, over 35 years of serving the Latino community in Charlotte,” Herrera said. 

Herrera, who moved to the U.S. from Ecuador at age 8, made Charlotte his home, and he hosted Hispanic Heritage Festival of the Carolinas with pride at the ballpark. He estimates more than 10,000 attended the event each year to enjoy food, concerts and entertainment.

“The food and the dancing is the best part of the festival,” Herrera said. 

La Unica Mexican Restaurant brought its sizzling food to the festival last year as a vendor and sponsor. 

General Manager Julio Nolasco explained the exposure brought added support.

“A lot of people show a lot of support, and we got the chance to put our name out there so people can try our food,” Nolasco said. 

This year, Herrera and other organizers announced the event is canceled this year due to the immigration climate.

“Why give people an opportunity where we usually have 10,000 to 11,000 people on Saturday together. It’s a massive number for our community to perhaps be targeted,” Herrera said. 

He added the biggest concern was a potential ICE enforcement operation near the venue.

“The reality of scaring or separating a family. That wasn’t going to happen with us,” Herrera said. 

He added concerns stemmed from vendors and images of immigration raids on TV.

“We’ve all seen different raids. We’ve all seen different things are happening on TV.  For me, it’s a friend of mine, a friend of mine that got picked up. When it hits home, that’s when you start, really start saying, what do we do here?” Herrera said. 

It was hard for Nolasco to learn about the festival’s cancellation. However, he respects the decision, if it keeps the community safe. 

“We don’t want to give anybody a reason to get detained or to get pulled over for any reason,” Nolasco said. 

Even without the festival this year, Nolasco and Herrera are finding other ways to celebrate. 

Nolasco is hosting events at the restaurant. Meanwhile Herrera said they are collaborating with Carolina Theater during Hispanic Heritage Month and partnering with the group for other cultural events. 

As far as the festival, the hope is to bring it back next year. 

“We appreciate the support of the community. We understand that it was a let down not to have this year’s festival but please if you can just see if perhaps next year we can have it, if you care to support,” Herrera said. 

While this event is canceled, other groups are still hosting their festivals this year.

La Fiesta del Pueblo in Raleigh and the 35th Latin American Festival and the Hola Charlotte festival are scheduled to go on. 

The Latin American Coalition, which hosts the Latin American Festival, said it is monitoring the immigration situation but can’t allow fear to prevent it from showing up for the community. In addition, the event brings a diverse crowd and not everyone is undocumented.