Advertisement

Column: Why waving the Mexican flag at immigration rallies isn’t wrong

People on a street carry blue-and-white and red-white-and-green flags
Some of the thousands who marched in downtown Los Angeles to protest President Trump’s immigration policies.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The sun was bright and the sky was blue on Saturday morning as I enjoyed breakfast with a friend at my wife’s restaurant in downtown Santa Ana.

We were talking about how Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will bounce all over the Kansas City Chiefs defense like a pinball during the Super Bowl, when the sound of faint yelling made us look outside.

Street preachers, boisterous hipsters and people blasting corridos and oldies are part of the neighborhood’s soundtrack, so we went back to our chat. But the faraway noise kept getting louder and louder until it began to sound like a roar.

Advertisement

“Is that a protest?” I wondered out loud while picking at my chilaquiles.

“Yeah,” my friend said, before cracking, “Probably about ICE” — Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

He was right.

Draped in Mexican and Salvadoran flags, roughly 1,000 demonstrators gathered near City Hall shortly before noon, blocking traffic at Spring and Temple streets.

We stepped outside to see Fourth Street suddenly swarming with young people. They yelled “?Sí se puede!” and “?El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido!” (The people united will never be divided.) Some twirled wooden noisemakers or held signs that read “Stop Separating Families” and “Relax Gringo I’m Legal.” The atmosphere was loud and proud, and onlookers cheered them on.

What I saw on Saturday was part of a nationwide weekend of actions against President Trump and his plans to crack down on illegal immigration, severely limit legal immigration and end birthright citizenship. Protesters gathered at Dallas City Hall and marched in East San José and along Buford Highway, the traditional immigrant landing spot in the Atlanta area. In Los Angeles, people demonstrated in Pacoima and took over the 101 Freeway downtown, creating a traffic jam that lasted hours.

Advertisement

I recorded two short videos of the Santa Ana happening, uploaded them to social media and went back to my chilaquiles. A few minutes later, I checked the comments on my posts. They were mostly positive, but a few angrily pointed out something I hadn’t given a second thought:

Mexican flags.

The tricolor is part of the Santa Ana landscape, so it easily escaped my attention. Besides, people have waved it, along with the flags of other Latin American countries, at every immigrant rights protest I’ve seen over the last 30 years.

At this weekend’s rallies, whether in Seattle, Arkansas, St. Louis or Florida, American flags were in the minority. On Monday, in downtown L.A. and across the United States, the tricolor flew proudly again.

Advertisement
A 1994 file photo of students from various Oxnard high schools
A 1994 file photo of students from various Oxnard high schools who skipped classes and gathered in Plaza Park in Oxnard to protest Proposition 187, the polarizing ballot initiative that sought to make life miserable for unauthorized immigrants and their children.
(Bruce K. Huff / Los Angeles Times)

You’ll see more Mexican flags at more protests against Trump and his immigration goon squad in the following weeks — if not months, or even years. And what you’ll hear hurled back are the following questions, asked not just by opponents of illegal immigration but by more than a few pro-immigrant activists.

Why wave the flag of another country and not the United States? How will this win the proverbial hearts and minds of opponents who rule the White House and Capitol Hill? Isn’t it ridiculous to taunt Trump and his supporters on the eve of what he promises will be a deportation crackdown not seen in decades? And can you find a bigger target for la migra than the red, white and green of Mexico, or the blue-and-white flag color schemes of Central American nations?

These queries have divided the immigrant rights movement since the early 1990s, when a flood of xenophobic measures swamped local and state governments across the American Southwest, and mainstream groups clashed with student activists about how best to fight back.

The moderates have always feared that Latinos waving the flags of Mexico, El Salvador, Venezuela and other ancestral countries is political suicide — that it taps into the part of the American psyche that believes Latinos will never assimilate and are sleeper agents scheming to overthrow this country. They’ve fretted especially about the Mexican flag, which is radioactive to conservatives — it’s the banner of our southern neighbor that we’ve been at war with, officially and not, for 175-plus years.

One of those doubters was once yours truly.

It was a powerful campaign image: the red, white and green flags of Mexico, hoisted proudly over the heads of protesters making their stand against Proposition 187. * The flags were intended as a show of pride by people who felt their Mexican heritage under siege.

In 1994, I saw a segment on the local news featuring an elderly Black gentleman and students in Fullerton who were protesting against Proposition 187, the infamous ballot initiative that sought to make life miserable for immigrants in the country illegally, as well as their children.

Advertisement

The man was supportive of the students but asked that they put away the Mexican flag and wave the American one. Instead, they yelled at him. Flustered, he told a reporter that he was originally against Proposition 187 but now planned to support the measure (it passed with 59% of the vote but was eventually ruled unconstitutional).

That encounter has always stayed with me. Brandishing a foreign flag at rallies for the rights of immigrants without papers to stay in this country seems counterintuitive. But when people who wrap themselves in the American flag scream for you and your loved ones to get the hell out of “their” country, I understand why folks will reflexively embrace a symbol that stands against such jingoism and expresses pride in their backgrounds.

Then and now, I think immigrant rights protesters should wave the American flag — not just because they live here and are fighting for immigrants to be able to stay here. The left should take the Stars and Stripes back from the right, which wields it like a cudgel or wears it as gauche fashion statement a la Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

But my thinking has evolved in the decades I’ve covered pro-immigrant demonstrations. Now, whenever I see people wave a foreign flag at a rally, I smile.

Those who defend the flags have always argued they’re a way for ordinary folks to express anger and passion while plugging into el movimiento on their terms. The flag wavers are the bold ones, the ones a good team offense needs. The public opinion battle might be lost in the short term, goes such logic, but these folks will push the immigration debate toward better places.

Demonstrators wave Mexican and American flags in Costa Mesa
Demonstrators wave Mexican and American flags during a 2006 protest and rally at Costa Mesa City Hall against proposed legislation to curb illegal immigration.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement

Those kids who ticked off the Black gentleman in Fullerton? Their movement fundamentally transformed California politics for the next generation and turned the state blue. The high schoolers who walked out in 2006, when Congress was deliberating whether to pass a version of Proposition 187 on steroids? They staged sit-ins and protests until legislators passed in-state tuition for their peers without papers.

Such strident advocacy pushed the Obama administration to create the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in 2012, with even Trump expressing some sympathy for the so-called Dreamers, whose parents brought them into this country illegally when they were children. And although citizenship still eludes them, many have continued their political advocacy by getting involved in local and congressional races — and helping candidates win.

What has the American flag at immigrant rights rallies accomplished? Great photo ops, sure, but the hard hearts of Republican lawmakers haven’t melted in all these years. Besides, Trump would deport an immigrant singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in front of Old Glory if he had the chance.

Waving a foreign flag at protests is good trouble — a sign for the brave to rally together and stand tall against a commander in chief who understands nothing but chaos.

On Monday, protests roiled downtown Santa Ana again, starting at Sasscer Park and the Ronald Reagan federal courthouse down the street from my wife’s restaurant before spreading across downtown well into the evening. Cars drove around with passengers unfurling Mexican, Salvadoran and Guatemalan flags. Once again, everyone was loud and proud.

A few blocks away, Tustin resident Juan Galvez wore a Mexican flag like a cape. It hung to just above his ankles. I caught him as he was walking back to his car. This was the first time the 20-year-old had protested about anything. He and his parents are American citizens, but he has friends whose relatives are not.

Advertisement

I asked why he wasn’t wrapped in the U.S. flag.

“Trump is attacking us because we’re Mexican,” Galvez replied. “He thinks we’re trash. I’m not trash. And I’m not afraid.”

Advertisement
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
soxtry.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
maw-pr.com
zaaksen.com
ypxsptbfd7.com
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
onlinenewsofindia.com
worldgraphic-team.com
bnsrz.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
webmanicura.com
osostore.com
softsmob.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
odskc.com
inzziln.info
leaiiln.info
cq-oa.com
dqtianshun.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
bartoysdirect.com
taquerialoscompadresdc.com
aaoodln.info
amcckln.info
drvrnln.info
dwabmln.info
fcsjoln.info
hlonxln.info
kcmeiln.info
kplrrln.info
fatcatoons.com
91guoys.com
signupforfreehosting.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
topsedu.xyz
xmxm7.com
x332.xyz
sportstrainingblog.com
autopartspares.com
readguy.net
soniasegreto.com
bobbygdavis.com
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
qazwsxedcokmijn.com
parabis.net
terriesandelin.com
luxuryhomme.com
studyexpanse.com
ronoom.com
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
snn01.com
hope-kelley.com
bancodeprofissionais.com
zjccp99.com
liturgycreator.com
weedsmj.com
majorelenco.com
colcollect.com
androidnews-jp.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
nova-click.com
abeautifulcrazylife.com
diggmobile.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
sizam-design.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
bamthemes.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com
avgo.top