SPOKANE, Wash. — A popular two-day Latino Festival in Spokane has postponed this year’s events “in response to the current political climate.”
Tacos y Tequila was expected to host its 5th annual festival on August 23 and 24 in downtown Spokane.
In a statement posted to Facebook, event organizers said the increasing anti-immigrant rhetoric has raised concerns about the safety and inclusivity of this year’s event.
“As we navigate the decision to postpone this year’s Tacos y Tequila Festival, we want to highlight the broader implications of this cancellation,” event organizers said. “Not only will it affect our local economy, but it will also significantly impact on the revenue at Nuestras Raices, where we provide essential behavioral health services to youth and individuals.”
Fernanda Mazcot, Executive Director of Nuestras Raíces, an organization that provides social and health services to Spokane’s Latino community, said many did not feel it was worth the risk to hold the event this year.
“If there’s that much hate out there, why have a festival to put us out there and be vulnerable? It’s just not worth it right now,” she said.
A change of attitude from vendors and community members led to the decision to cancel this year’s event.
“We had about five or six vendors that decided to withdraw their application, just because there’s a lot of emotions. There’s a lot of division right now in our community,” Mazcot said.
She said the community is navigating how to deal with a lot of negativity and hate comments.
“There’s a lot of hate comments happening toward the Latino community right now,” Mazcot said. “That is probably our main concern – just the amount of hate comments we have been getting as a Latino organization.”
Without the event to fundraise for Neustras Raíces, the organization is looking for other ways to garner support.
“Tacos y Tequila is a fundraiser for Neustras Raíces and we rely on a lot of fundraising as a small nonprofit,” Mazcot said.
In the wake of the cancellation, many community partners have stepped up to help fundraise.
No-Li is hosting a Community Fiesta with live music and Mexican lager on August 8 from 4 – 7 p.m. to raise money for the organization.
Mazcot said the focus is now on working to make sure this event is safe and welcoming to everyone next year.
“How can we make this more secure, so that everyone feels safe being in a festival. That’s kind of where our mentality is right now. We’ll be back. We’ll be back better and bigger,” she said.
You can read the full statement from Tacos y Tequila below:
It is with heavy heart to announce Tacos y Tequila Festival, a two-day Latino Festival scheduled for August 23rd and August 24th, has been postponed.This decision was not made lightly, but it comes in response to the current political climate and the increasing anti-immigrant rhetoric that has raised concerns about the safety and inclusivity of our event. We are already hard at work planning a more secure and inclusive event for next year.Tacos y Tequila was envisioned as a non-ticketed celebration where everyone could come together to enjoy music, tequila, culinary delights and the rich culture that defines us. However, the open nature of the event has raised concerns among our staff, volunteers, vendors, artists, and community members regarding safety and security.This decision was not made lightly, especially considering that Tacos y Tequila serves as a vital fundraiser for our community center, which provides essential services to those in need. The festival has historically represented a vibrant symbol of unity and the significant contributions of the Hispanic and Latino community. This year would have marked our 5th annual celebration. We understand that this news may bring disappointment to our vendors, performers, volunteers, and the broader community who eagerly anticipate this celebration each year. Please know that we are committed to addressing the safety concerns and working diligently to ensure a successful and secure festival next year.As we navigate the decision to postpone this year’s Tacos y Tequila Festival, we want to highlight the broarder implications of this cancellation. Not only will it affect our local economy, but it will also significantly impact on the revenue at Nuestras Raices, where we provide essential behavioral health services to youth and individuals.While we are committed to bringing the festival back next year, we also need your support during this time. If you wish to contribute and help us continue our vital services, please consider donating to Nuestras Raiceshttps://www.nuestrasraiceswa.orgThank you for your understanding and continued support.
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