Organizers of the traditional Oaxacan festival Guelaguetza postponed this weekend’s event at Palomar College due to growing concerns and uncertainty caused by immigration enforcement operations in San Diego.
The event which typically brings hundreds of people together to celebrate Oaxacan traditions and culture through dance, cuisine and art, was scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 18.
The festival had been a staple at the San Marcos campus for more that two decades.
Sara Gutiérrez, a board member of the Coalition of Indigenous Communities of Oaxaca (COCIO) who organizes the festival said, “It is very important to me that new generations learn where they come from. Their cultures, their traditions, and where their parents come from.”
The decision by COCIO to postpone the festival came amid concerns about the impact of immigration enforcement operations in the community.
“There was a lot of concern about us proceeding with the event during this period, which is marked by great uncertainty and is affecting many people in the county,” said Cuetz Rodríguez, a member of the COCIO board of directors.
The organizers of the festival shared that despite the postponement of the Guelaguetza, the event has not been cancelled and they are working to reschedule it in a way that prioritizes the safety of all attendees.