Recently, immigrants in the country have become increasingly fearful of being in public. The government has fostered an unsafe environment that prioritizes its authority over the well-being of citizens, rather than addressing more pressing issues. Most recently, a Los Angeles, California, woman recorded her daily run, which felt different now that immigrants are no longer celebrating in local parks. The narrative concerning deporting any immigrant deemed illegal has made going out in public feel pretty dystopian.
The above video depicts a woman going on her daily run through the public parks of Los Angelles, California. Throughout the video, she comments on the parks she typically runs through, and how they’re now empty. She credits their emptiness to the fear that’s been instilled in the latin families that would typically be celebrating birthday parties or having barbecues with their families. She also comments on how Spanish street vendors have left a void where they had once set up their carts and sold food to passing citizens.
More specifically, the recent ICE raids that have terrorized the country are becoming more and more aggressive. As a result, anyone who values their life wouldn’t dare step out for fear of being kidnapped by masked men in unmarked cars. Various Redditors commented on why this is the case, with one person saying, “I have a company that provides party services. I’ve seen a giant hit in parties this year. The fires took a big toll, but what’s going on now with ice is hitting a ton harder. It’s like everything went off a cliff.”
Almost every American has ancestry that includes immigrants, considering the country has only been around for about 250 years. However, the struggle for basic human rights for all American citizens continues and is likely to persist for the foreseeable future. I hope that parks will welcome back visitors who enjoy them as they should.
