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Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
What the Dodgers can learn from Angel City about community
So that's why they're called the Dodgers. For the better part of the last two weeks, the Los Angeles baseball franchise has evaded calls from fans begging that it speak up and show support for communities terrorized by ongoing immigration raids taking place across the Southland. When thousands of Angelenos took to the streets for a series of protests, the Dodgers buried their heads in the sandlot and pretended the unrest wasn't happening. 'We're not going to comment,' Dodgers executive vice president and chief marketing officer Lon Rosen told my colleague Dylan Hernández, who included the quote in a scathing column published Saturday morning in which he accused the team of cowardice and letting down their Latino fan base. But as the team found out later that evening, the issue was not going to go away. Before the start of Saturday night's game against the San Francisco Giants, Nezza performed 'El Pendón Estrellado,' a Spanish-language version of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' commissioned by the State Department in 1945 and composed by Clotilde Arias. In a TikTok video uploaded on Sunday, the 30-year-old L.A.-based pop singer, whose real name is Vanessa Hernández, revealed that she sang the national anthem in Spanish against the team's wishes. She also claimed that the Dodgers banned her from the stadium, an assertion the club denies. The incident became national news by Monday, and the Dodgers came out looking like a franchise that only cares about its Latino fans when it's trying to make money off of them. On Wednesday, after initially saying that they would not be commenting, a team spokesperson told my colleague Jack Harris that the Dodgers were working on a plan to assist immigrant communities, and that they would announce the specifics soon. (As I write this, the team has not yet unveiled what said plans are.) On Thursday morning, the Department of Homeland Security brought the immigration debate to the team's doorstep after several federal agents were spotted near a Dodger Stadium parking lot gate. Rumors spread on social media that the team had allowed ICE agents to use their parking lot as a staging area. Hours later, the Dodgers took to social media to clarify that no such thing had transpired. 'This morning, ICE agents came to Dodger Stadium and requested permission to access the parking lots. They were denied entry to the grounds by the organization. Tonight's game will be played as scheduled,' the statement said. In response, DHS said that the agents were not with ICE, but with the Customs and Border Protection — the department oversees both agencies. That people believed the Dodgers were collaborating with ICE shows you just how much trust they have lost with fans — on Thursday night, protesters gathered outside the stadium and some of the anger appeared to be directed at the club. The team's inaction over the last two weeks should be used in crisis management classes as an example of what not to do. It was a self-inflicted wound, and it didn't have to play out that way. Just look at what the Angel City Football Club did. On June 7, the day after the start of the immigration raids, the National Women's Soccer League franchise released a pro-immigrant statement on X. 'We are heartbroken by the fear and uncertainty our Los Angeles community are feeling right now,' it read. 'At Angel City, we believe in the power of belonging. We know that our city is stronger because of its diversity and the people and families who shape it, love it, and call it home.' It wasn't an empty gesture. The following week, ahead of Saturday's match against the North Carolina Courage, Angel City players and coaches walked on to the pitch donning black shirts with 'Immigrant City Football Club' emblazoned in the front, and 'Los Angeles is for everyone/Los Ángeles es Para Todos' written on the back. In addition to distributing them to fans in attendance, Angel City has been selling the shirts from its team store, with net proceeds going to the nonprofit Camino Immigration Services. 'The statement was the beginning. The statement was our way of making sure that our fans, our players, our staff felt seen in that moment,' Chris Fajardo, Angel City's vice president of community, told Times soccer writer Kevin Baxter. 'The next piece was, I think, true to Angel City. Not just talking the talk but walking the walk.' It's a lesson the Dodgers ought to learn. At some point in the last week, the topic of pro-immigrant and Latin music protest songs came up on the De Los team Slack channel. I asked the team to send me some of their favorite tracks, and a brief description about why they picked it. Here's what they said. 'The Battle of Los Angeles' by Rage Against the Machine – As Angelenos take the streets to defend the city's immigrant communities, this classic 1999 rap metal album feels more relevant than ever. Born in Long Beach to Mexican American parents, Rage frontman Zack de la Rocha wasn't a prophet so much as he was a student of history — which he illustrated with righteous fury in songs like the Grammy-winning 'Guerilla Radio' and 'Sleep Now in the Fire.' —Suzy Exposito 'Latinoamérica' by Calle 13 – This song is an ode to the strife and joy that simultaneously permeates across the Americas; it's an affirmation that its land, and its people, will never be crushed by unforeseeable forces. Layered with powerful chants by Afro-Peruvian folklore singer Susana Baca, Afro-Colombian singer Totó la Momposina and Brazilian singer Maria Rita, 'Latinoamérica' is a timeless fight song that marches in step with the pulsing heartbeat of Latin America. —Andrea Flores 'Clandestino' by Manu Chao – Multilingual reggae rocker Manu Chao was born in Paris to Spanish parents who fled the Franco regime; as a result, he felt called to promote the rights of refugees and migrants all over the world. His 1998 song 'Clandestino' would become a global anthem for the undocumented. —Elana Szczepanski 'Tres Veces Mojado' by Los Tigres Del Norte – The song reflects on the difficult and dangerous journey of an immigrant crossing borders — and the challenges of being seen as an outsider in other Latin American countries. —Lupe Llerenas 'Invalid Litter Dept.' by At the Drive-In – This Texas post-hardcore band was founded in El Paso, but their eyes were cast across the border, in the neighboring Ciudad Juárez, where hundreds of Mexican women went to work in factories and never returned home. In confronting the Mexican government for its failure to prevent the femicides, the band also challenges a culture in which commerce is valued more than the lives of the workers who keep it running. —S.E. 'La Carencia' by Panteón Rococó – 'La carencia' translates to 'the lack' — and as such, the song captures the lack of opportunities given to the working class in a globalizing world. —Anthony Solorzano 'Pa'l Norte' - Calle 13 ft. Orishas – A vibrant song celebrating the strength and resilience of immigrants who've traveled far from home for better lives, while acknowledging the sacrifices and injustices they face. —L.L. 'El Mojado' by Ricardo Arjona – A poetic reflection on the experience of being undocumented, working hard and still not belonging where you are. —L.L. 'Gimme Tha Power' by Molotov – Criticizing government corruption is always timely, no matter which administration or time period. Mexico City band Molotov decry state agents who extort the same communities that pay their salaries, and make a plea for power to be returned to the people. — Carlos De Loera 'La Jaula de Oro' by Julieta Venegas – Mexican singer Julieta Venegas paid an electronica-infused tribute to the original song by legendary norteño band Los Tigres del Norte, 'La Jaula de Oro,' which translates to 'The Golden Cage.' The song warns immigrants that, while there's much money to be made in the U.S., it can come at a high personal cost. —L.L. 'Al Millón' by Los Dos Carnales – This song embodies a strong sense of pride and resilience, emphasizing staying true to oneself and facing challenges with courage and integrity. The lyrics express a willingness to go 'all in' and not back down. —L.L. 'The Star-Spangled Banner' by José Feliciano – At the zenith of anti-war and counterculture protests throughout the world, Puerto Rican icon José Feliciano performed the national anthem before Game 5 of the 1968 World Series and infused his signature sound to the song. His rendition garnered mixed reactions as some fans booed him at the park — and the New York Times called his take 'controversial.' Really, it's just beautiful. — C.D.L. Trump can command National Guard as California's legal challenge moves forward, appeals court says The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided Thursday to leave troops in Los Angeles in the hands of the Trump administration while California's objections are litigated in federal court, finding the president had broad — though not 'unreviewable' — authority to deploy the military in American cities. ICE issued new rules for Congress members visiting detention centers. Experts say they're illegal Members from California, Illinois and New Jersey have been denied access in recent weeks to immigrant detention facilities in their states. Oversight experts say that's a substantial departure from past practice. Jorge Ramos on his new digital series: 'I have a few pending battles left' Six months after leaving TelevisaUnivision, the renowned Mexican journalist turns to social media programming with 'Así Veo las Cosas.' From ICE raids and spirituality to babysitting, 'Trans Los Angeles' examines life in the city 'Trans Los Angeles' film director Kase Peña and star Carmen Carrera talk about authentic portrayals of the trans community, and the financial challenges that come with making an independent feature. 'It's a risk to come to work': Terror and a touch of desperation in L.A. Around certain immigrant hubs, The Times found that daily life had been significantly altered because of the fear and panic around the ongoing immigration raids. South L.A. mother deports herself to Mexico amid Trump's immigration crackdown, family says A South Los Angeles mother deported herself last week to Mexico after living in the U.S. for 36 years, according to her family. Video shows military-style vehicle in what witnesses say was a Compton immigration raid A military-style vehicle was used in an immigration raid in Compton on June 9, according to witnesses and video of the incident. Immigrant protests, unrest in L.A. reverberate in Mexico News coverage of the immigration raids and protests in Southern California has transfixed Mexico, where reports have heavily sided with the immigrants against U.S. efforts to detain and deport them. 18 immigrant-founded restaurants in L.A. from our Hall of Fame list Immigrant cuisines form the backbone of L.A.'s food scenes. Here are 18 spots to support from the Times' Hall of Fame guide. Protesters are chasing federal agents out of L.A. County hotels: 'A small victory' In hotels across L.A. County, federal immigration agents come face-to-face with a public that is often highly critical of their enforcement actions. Farms, hotels and restaurants press Trump to exempt their businesses from immigration raids As confusion swirls around whether Trump will exempt farms and other businesses from immigration raids, businesses are emphasizing the importance of their immigrant workforce. ICE flights out of L.A. area more than doubled in the last month A majority of the ICE flights departing Victorville were headed to airports near detention centers in Arizona and Texas. Bad Bunny calls out ICE for conducting raids in Puerto Rico In a recent Instagram video, Bad Bunny criticized ICE agents for continuing to conduct raids in his native Puerto Rico. 'Real Women Have Curves: The Musical' bows out of Broadway The Boyle Heights-inspired production will close out its final performance on June 29, less than two months from its official spring debut. Diego Luna says Hollywood offered him only drug dealer roles before 'Star Wars' During a roundtable discussion with the Hollywood Reporter, the 'Andor' star spoke candidly about his career before taking on the Empire.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
After Dodger Anthem Uproar, Nezza Fires Back: ‘No Regrets'
R&B singer Nezza stunned fans at Dodger Stadium by performing the U.S. national anthem in Spanish—a bold move that lit up the internet. Her emotional 90-second rendition had the crowd erupting in cheers, but behind the scenes, tension simmered. Nezza later revealed she expected to be booed, which is why she kept her eyes closed while singing. Dodgers staff reportedly pushed her toward performing in English, but the moment she saw the sea of Latino families in the stands, her decision was clear. Her TikTok showing the staff exchange went viral, with many praising her quiet defiance during a time when ICE raids have rattled L.A.'s immigrant communities. The Spanish version she sang, El Pendón Estrellado, was officially commissioned in 1945, adding historical weight to her stand.
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Nezza's translated national anthem shines light on a forgotten Latina trailblazer
On Saturday night, singer Nezza sang a Spanish version of 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' also known as 'El Pendón Estrellado,' at Dodger Stadium, despite being told by an unnamed representative of the baseball organization that she sing it in English. The 30-year-old pop singer, whose real name is Vanessa Hernández, uploaded the interaction on TikTok, where she proceeded to sing the Spanish version anyway. She captioned the video, 'para mi gente [heart] I stand with you.' In a tearful follow up TikTok video, she clarified that her decision to follow through with singing 'El Pendón Estrellado' was in response to the ongoing immigration sweeps throughout Los Angeles 'I've sang the national anthem many times in my life but today out of all days, I could not,' Nezza said in the TikTok video. The Dodgers did not issue a public comment on Nezza's social media posts, but a team official said there were no consequences from the club regarding the performance and that Nezza would be welcome back at the stadium in the future. 'I just don't understand how anyone can watch the videos that have been surfacing and still be on the wrong side of history,' Nezza told The Times. Nezza's performance has also sparked conversations about the origins of 'El Pendón Estrellado,' resurfacing the legacy of a trailblazing Latina composer, Clotilde Arias. 'The lyrics and the story are the same,' said Nezza. 'We're still saying we're proud to be American.' In 1945, the U.S. State Department looked to commission a Spanish version of the national anthem, per the request of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who looked to strengthen political and business partnerships with Latin American countries amid World War II. His cultural efforts aligned with his 1933 Good Neighbor Policy, a Pan-Americanism objective that he implemented at the start of his first term to distance the U.S. from earlier decades of armed intervention. Although 'The Star-Spangled Banner' had already been translated to various languages by the time that President Roosevelt entered office, including two Spanish versions, no versions of the anthem were considered singable. In 1945, the Division of Cultural Cooperation within the Department of State, in collaboration with the Music Educators National Conference, invited submissions for the song in Spanish and Portuguese to promote American patriotism throughout Latin America. Composer and musician Arias — who immigrated to New York in 1923 at the age of 22 from Iquitos, Peru — answered the call. At the time, Arias had already established herself as a formidable copywriter for ad agencies, translating jingles and songs in Spanish for companies like Alka-Seltzer, Campbell Soup, Ford Motor Co., Coca-Cola (including the translation version of Andrews Sisters' 'Rum and Coca-Cola') and others. She submitted 'El Pendón Estrellado,' which included singable lyrics that conveyed the original patriotic essence of 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' It was accepted as the only official translation of the national anthem allowed to be sung, according to the National Museum of American History. However, Arias would die in 1959 at age 58, leaving the song's existence publicly unknown until 2006, when Roger Arias II, her grandson, dug out drafts of the sheet music and drafts hidden in the garage. The unexpected find caught the attention of Marvette Pérez, the late curator of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History who at the time was programming Latino exhibits like '!Azúcar!: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz.' To honor Arias' legacy, Pérez organized an exhibit in 2012 titled 'Not Lost in Translation: The Life of Clotilde Arias,' featuring real documents and photographs of the songwriter. The exhibit also commissioned the first-ever recording of 'El Pendón Estrellado,' sung by the a cappella ensemble Coral Cantigas under the musical direction of Diana Sáez. The DC-chamber choir also performed during the exhibit's opening day, which Arias' son, Roger Arias, age 82 at the time, came to see. 'I was there when she was writing it,' Roger Arias told NPR at the time. 'She'd sing it in her own way to see if it fits, and she would say, 'How does that sound, sonny?' And I would say anything she did sounded good to me. So, yes, she struggled through it, but she made it work.' For Nezza, Arias' 'El Pendón Estrellado' is not only a symbol of American pride, but also a living piece of forgotten Latino history. 'Latino people are a huge part of building this nation,' said Nezza. 'I think [the song] shows how we are such an important piece to the story of America.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dodger Stadium singer confirms she performed national anthem in Spanish to protest ICE, in defiance of team
An interesting national anthem was performed at Dodger Stadium on Saturday — and not because the team wanted it. Rather than sing the traditional "The Star-Spangled Banner," Vanessa Hernández, who performs under the name Nezza, sang 'El Pendón Estrellado,' the official Spanish version of the anthem commissioned by the U.S. government under Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945. Advertisement She apparently did so in defiance of the Dodgers' instructions, as she posted a TikTok following the performance showing an unidentified employee explicitly telling her the song should be in English. "We are going to do the song in English today, so I don't know if that wasn't translated — er, communicated," the employee said. Nezza's caption: "Watch the Dodgers tell me I can't sing the Spanish Star Spangled Banner that Roosevelt literally commissioned in 1945 — so I did it anyway." Wearing a shirt with the flag and colors of her native Dominican Republic, an emotional Nezza paused for tears before delivering the song's final line. In a different video, Nezza confirmed that she performed the song as a protest on the part of the Latino community as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency continues to carry out raids in Los Angeles: "I didn't think I would be met with any sort of 'No,' especially because we're in L.A. with everything happening. I've sang the national anthem many times in my life, but today I could not. I'm sorry ... I just could not believe, when she walked in and told me 'No,' but I just felt like I needed to do it, para mi gente [for my people]. "My parents are immigrants. They've been citizens my whole life at this point, they got documented really early, but I just can't imagine them being ripped away from me, even at this age, let alone a little kid. Like, what are we doing?" Despite Nezza saying "Safe to say I'm never allowed in that stadium ever again," The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya reports that she was not punished or ejected from Dodger Stadium and is not expected to be banned from the stadium. The team reportedly declined comment on her videos. Advertisement The Dodgers won Saturday's game 11-5. Nezza ignored a request from the Dodgers amid a protracted dispute over ICE raids in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) How have Los Angeles teams responded to the ICE raids? ICE has been raiding locations throughout Los Angeles since June 6, triggering protests across the city and major political disputes between local politicians and President Donald Trump's administration, most notably the arrest of Sen. Alex Padilla while confronting Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Both California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass have urged ICE to leave, but Trump has gone as far as mobilizing the California National Guard and deploying hundreds of Marines in the city. Advertisement A federal judge ruled Friday that Trump's federalization of the National Guard was illegal, but the order to return control to Newsom has been paused pending an appeal this week. Trump himself has somewhat backtracked amid the chaos, directing officers to halt arresting employees at farms, hotels and restaurants. Arrests have continued at other locations. The Dodgers and many of the other major teams in the Los Angeles area have largely remained silent about the current events, though exceptions include MLS's LAFC and the NWSL's Angel City. LAFC released a statement expressing solidarity with the community amid "fear and uncertainty," while Angel City went a step further with shirts reading "Immigrant City Football Club." Individual members of the Dodgers organization have spoken out on Instagram as well. Advertisement Veteran utility man Kiké Hernández said he is "saddened and infuriated by what's happening in our country and our city," and that he "cannot stand to see our community being violated, profiled, abused and ripped apart." Former Dodgers first baseman Adrián González, who now works for the team as a broadcaster, called the raids "unconstitutional" and "illegal," urging the government to stop separating families. Meanwhile, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who has spoken on social justice issues in the past, pleaded ignorance about the issues on Friday, per The Athletic: 'Honestly, I don't know enough, to be quite honest with you. I know that when you're having to bring people in and deport people, all the unrest, it's certainly unsettling for everyone. But I haven't dug enough and can't speak intelligently on it.' Perhaps Hernández can give him some details.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nezza sings national anthem in Spanish at Dodgers as protest against immigration raids
Singer Vanessa Hernández says she chose to sing the Spanish version of the US national anthem at Dodger Stadium on Saturday as a protest against recent immigration raids. Hernández, who performs under the name Nezza, says she was warned by a member of the Dodgers staff before the team's game against the San Francisco Giants to perform the anthem in English. Related: NWSL's Angel City wear 'Immigrant City Football Club' shirts after Los Angeles raids After her performance Hernández posted a video to TikTok, with the caption 'Watch the Dodgers tell me I can't sing the Spanish Star Spangled Banner that Roosevelt literally commissioned in 1945 – so I did it anyway.' The video shows an apparent conversation with the Dodgers staff member. 'We are going to do the song in English today, so I don't know if that wasn't translated – er, communicated,' the employee says. However, Hernández went on to sing El Pendón Estrellado, which the US government commissioned as the Spanish version of the Star-Spangled Banner in 1945. She explained her decision in another social media video. 'I didn't think I would be met with any sort of 'No,' especially because we're in LA with everything happening,' said Hernández whose parents are from the Dominican Republic. 'I've sang the national anthem many times in my life, but today I could not. I'm sorry ... I just could not believe, when she walked in and told me 'No,' but I just felt like I needed to do it, para mi gente [for my people]. 'My parents are immigrants. They've been citizens my whole life at this point, they got documented really early, but I just can't imagine them being ripped away from me, even at this age, let alone a little kid. Like, what are we doing?' The Dodgers have yet to comment on the incident but The Athletic reports the club did not punish her for her decision. Hernández was not the only person over the weekend to make a statement on the immigration raids in LA. Angel City, LA's NWSL team, wore shirts that proclaimed themselves 'Immigrant City Football Club' before Saturday night's game against the North Carolina Courage.
