¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo! Here is one wikipedia summary of the holiday and its meaning:
Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for “fifth of May”) is a voluntarily observed holiday that commemorates the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín. It is celebrated primarily in the state of Puebla and in the United States. While Cinco de Mayo has limited significance nationwide in Mexico, the date is observed in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day [celebrated in September].
Americans of Mexican ancestry are facing much in the way of nativistic and racist attacks these days, including anti-immigrant xenophobia, as we have recently blogged about on this website.
Recently, they and their supporters in other groups, tens of thousands of people, have organized large-scale protests in favor of antidiscrimination public policies, and of fair treatment of immigrants of all types–and thus of expanded freedom and liberty in the U.S.
Yet the mainstream mass media seem to pay much more attention to the protests of right-wing, mostly white groups, who often protest in much smaller numbers, such as the tea baggers. I wonder why that is?
Here is a useful summary of five myths about immigration today. And here is a useful listing of immigration news.
In an extraordinary protest, the Phoenix Suns basketball team is wearing its Los Suns uniforms tonight to protest the immigration law. The owner issued a very political statement opposing the law and the players have all come out against it.
I don’t remember ever seeing a basketball team get involved in a protest measure like this and I have been watching basketball for a very long time. The NBA players association has condemned the law as well.
In the middle of a hard fought playoff series, it is commendable. The Spurs, their opponents tried to wear their Los Spurs jerseys as well, but logistical issues prevented it.
Oh, sorry I should have linked the stories over at espn.com/nba