- Colombian Independence Day Festival canceled due to ICE concerns.
- KANSAS CITY celebrates culture with the Colombian Cultural Association.
- Community fears influence festival decision, not politics.
- Resilience emphasized by Gutierrez, future events planned.
- The organization vows to continue celebrating diversity.
Colombian Independence Day Festival Canceled Amid ICE Fears
The Colombian Cultural Association has officially announced the cancellation of Colombia’s Independence Day Festival due to rising concerns around potential ICE raids in Kansas City. This marks a significant shift for an event that has been celebrated annually for the past 17 years, according to President Orlando Gutierrez. He mentioned that planning for the festival typically begins right after the previous year’s event, underscoring their commitment to long-term cultural celebration.
Community Concerns Led to Tough Cancellation Decision
Gutierrez noted that as early as February, his organization began to monitor escalating ICE activities in the Kansas City area. In an effort to gauge community sentiment, they distributed surveys and consulted with local law enforcement. “Every day and every week that goes by, we’ve felt more and more comfortable with that decision, unfortunately,” he remarked, emphasizing the difficult choice they had to make.
Resilience and Future Events on the Horizon
He was keen to underline that the decision wasn’t politically motivated, stating clearly that the organization’s goal is cultural celebration, not political action. “This is simply, even though some see it as that, it’s a way for us to not expose ourselves as an organization and not expose our community to issues that don’t need to happen,” Gutierrez explained. Despite this setback, he affirmed their resilience, stating, “We’ll be back. We are a resilient people. We must continue to move forward… we have to keep building. The purpose of our organization is to bring diversity and growth to a community.”
In conclusion, while the Colombian Independence Day Festival faces cancellation due to valid community concerns regarding potential ICE raids, the Colombian Cultural Association expresses hope for the future. President Gutierrez reiterates their focus on celebrating culture and diversity, assuring that the organization remains committed to its mission and will plan future events this year. The cancellation reflects a strong community response amid challenging circumstances.