A rainy Saturday in the Nation’s Capital didn’t stop thousands from celebrating Fiesta DC on Constitution Avenue.
Organizers say it is the largest Latino festival in the country. It comes at a time when some say it’s crucial to celebrate Hispanic culture.
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“Every year we always come,” Cindy Sorto, representing El Salvador, told 7News reporter Lianna Golden.
The music: inviting. The crowds: dancing. But still, Sorto said something was missing.
“This year, less people,” Sorto said.
“You can tell that there’s much less people than there usually are in past years,” Andrea Colque, representing Bolivia, told Golden.
People were filled with relief and pride alike that Fiesta DC still went on despite neighboring communities like Montgomery County cancelling their Hispanic Heritage Month festivities, citing concerns over heightened federal immigration enforcement.
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“I immigrated in 2001, and I’ve been here for almost 25 years,” Benito Colque, Andrea’s father, said. “We understand that many of our people that come from back home, the legal situation is different, but at the same time, we don’t want them to stay inside their houses and kind of without a voice.”
“I’m speaking for the people that are scared,” Sorto added.
The increased presence of federal officers on D.C. streets since early August, including ICE agents, has kept many at home.
Though these families said they won’t be intimidated.
“I think you shouldn’t be scared, you know. I think you should represent your roots, no matter what, and you know, we’re all equal at the end of the day,” Sorto said.
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“It’s an important bonding event that we have here,” Andrea said. “We love it so much. People have so much fun coming here. They work very hard to make things like this happen, so it’s very sad when people who want to participate and give back to their community can’t do so.”
Andrea’s little sister, Olivia, has some advice for festival first-timers.
“I think for new people, it would be really fun to come because they could see how some countries are, and especially Bolivia too, a very beautiful country,” Olivia said.