Countywide : Riots Lend Celebration New Feeling

With mariachi music blaring in the background, Fullerton College student Ronnie Lopez suddenly clapped her hands, threw her head back and broke into a spontaneous lip sync and dance.

“I love mariachi music,” Lopez said as she continued to move with the rhythm of the music. “It’s just so pretty.”

Lopez, 18, was one of hundreds of students who gathered Tuesday in the quad of the campus for a Cinco de Mayo celebration Tuesday that included folk dancers, live mariachi music, pinatas and Mexican food.

The celebration was among the relatively few events held in the county to celebrate the 1862 victory of the Mexicans over the French at Acutzingo Peak in Puebla, Mexico.

Many of the larger celebrations, such as major festivals planned for last weekend in Santa Ana and at Fountain Valley’s Mile Square Park, were canceled because of the riots in Los Angeles, but are to be rescheduled.

But at Fullerton College, members of the student group MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan) said they never considered canceling their event. They said the riots and their aftermath made their celebration even more meaningful.

“It comes at a good time to allow us to relieve a little bit of the stress caused by the riots,” said James Aragon, MEChA adviser.

“This event reminds us that people of color need to stand together, whether they are black, Latino or Asian. We need to develop a strong coalition to create change in society.”

Although more serious thoughts were on the minds of many, students still managed to enthusiastically feast on tostadas, nachos, Spanish rice and refried beans covered with grated cheese and jalapeno peppers.

“It’s all Mexican fat food,” student Michelle Callanza joked as she slowly stirred a pot of nacho cheese sauce.

The morning event was kicked off with the breaking of a large pinata. More than 50 4- and 5-year-olds from the college’s child care center took turns swinging at the pinata, which looked like a green parrot and was stuffed with candy and nuts.

“I got a whole bunch of stuff,” said bubbly 5-year-old Jessica Warren, who smiled broadly and protectively clutched her small paper bag filled with treats.

At UC Irvine, a week of Cinco de Mayo festivities was kicked off with more than 300 students listening to live mariachi music and watching Aztec dancers perform in full costume.

Latino student leaders and others made emotional speeches calling for better understanding among races and also blasted critics who said the event’s organizers have commercialized and cashed in on the day.

“There must be another reason why we celebrate Cinco de Mayo, other than to sell beer,” said student Maria Falcon, 25. “If you’re going to celebrate it, do it for the right reasons and know what it’s for. Most people think it’s Mexican Independence Day and the chance for a discount margarita.”

Student Mike Fitch, 21, paused for several minutes to watch the afternoon’s festivities and said: “It’s important for people to try and find out what other cultures are about. We don’t associate with each other enough and are kind of intimidated by each other.”

Adolpho Arteaga, head of the group of Aztec dancers who thrilled the crowd with skillful footwork to dramatic drumbeats, asked the students to look at each other “as brothers.”

“We are all equals,” Arteaga said to the crowd. “We are all the same. We all have two hands and two feet and one heart.”