(KRON) – A Day of the Dead event at Berkeley High School was canceled last weekend due to concerns about immigration enforcement, while Oakland continues its celebration despite the concerns.
The Berkeley event was canceled after vendors and families expressed concerns that ICE agents might show up, prompting the withdrawal of participation. In return, Oakland city leaders are moving forward with their Day of the Dead celebration, focusing on community support and safety.
Adriana Beatty, executive director of RISE, explained the decision to cancel the Berkeley event, saying, “It’s hard enough just going to the grocery store, but going to an event that, you know, they’re going to target is hard enough.”
“Snowboarding won’t be here. They’ll definitely arrest anyone. They’ll have to arrest me first,” Oakland City Councilman Noel Gallo assured attendees of the Oakland event.
The presence of ICE agents in the Bay Area last week led to protests and increased fears among immigrant communities. Although President Trump canceled the planned raids, concern remained, impacting events like the one at Berkeley High School.
Auckland’s Day of the Dead festival, held in the Fruitvale area, is expected to attract thousands. City officials are cooperating with law enforcement to ensure the safety of attendees and maintain a welcoming atmosphere.
At Berkeley, organizers have adapted by allowing students to visit altars during school hours, keeping the holiday spirit alive in a more subdued way.
The Auckland event will take place in the Fruitvale District starting at 10 a.m. Sunday.
All facts contained in this report were collected by journalists working forCrohn4. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat the broadcast transcript into a news article for our website. This report was edited and verified by KRON4 staff before deployment.