On Sunday, November 2nd, dozens of altars and booths lined International Boulevard in Oakland’s Fruitvale district for the annual Día de los Muertos Festival. A sea of skeletal face paint, flower crowns, and creative “Catrina” costumes filled all seven blocks for the community celebration.
Despite recent threats of an immigration enforcement “surge” in the Bay Area, thousands gathered to commemorate their loved ones under this year’s theme “Aquí estamos y no nos vamos” (We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere). The Unity Council of Oakland, the organization that hosts the event, put together an emergency preparedness plan to address community fears of potential immigration operations by federal law enforcement.
Similar to previous years, El Tímpano set up a community altar where festival attendees were invited to write the names of their deceased loved ones on orange and yellow paper flowers that were then pinned to a memorial display. Memories of grandparents, pets, and those who have died while in immigration custody, were among those shared.
Patricia Blanco, 51, participated by honoring her husband, who died two years ago. She attends the festival every year with her mom, but due to the recent immigration enforcement threats, she said she and her mom went back and forth multiple times before deciding to come out to the event.
“My mom is a legal resident and I’m a citizen,” Blanco, who lives in Hayward, said. “We are finding ourselves in a situation because of the things we see on TV and Trump’s decisions against the Hispanic community. Today, we decided to come celebrate with the Hispanic community and our loved ones that are now in heaven, and that’s something that can’t be taken away.”
Approximately 150 people participated in El Tímpano’s remembrance activity throughout the day, including some of El Tímpano’s SMS subscribers.
El Tímpano’s Hiram Alejandro Durán captured the event in photos.
Today I wanted to honor my daughter’s great grandparents and my uncle. They all tragically passed on the same day before I was born so we didn’t get to meet them, but it’s a huge loss in our family. Getting to celebrate this holiday for them is just regaining a piece of something that I never had and my mom longs for.
Elena Aguilar, Oakland
I’m honoring the parents of my friend who passed away. They’re dearly missed, so I’m sending them my love thinking about them on Día de los Muertos. Also sending out love to all the people who have passed away in the immigration system, in their journey of migration, and also in detention.
Paola, Oakland
I’m honoring my cat Nicky. He was my favorite cat. I would always pet him and when I would go next to him, he’d never leave.
Farid, Oakland
I’m honoring my uncle. He passed away 11 years ago. He was deported back to Mexico.
BirIdiana Manzanarez, Richmond
