US Hymn carried out in Spanish in the Dodger stadium generates a debate on the support of immigrants

By Leslie Ambriz

Los Angeles (AP) – The fans took the caps and got up to listen to the national anthem of the United States on Saturday evening at the Dodger stadium. Suddenly, they encountered a surprising interpretation.

The singer Pop Latin and R&B Nezza stopped in front of the crowd, closed her eyes and sung the song … in Spanish.

Her 90-second interpretation and a video behind the cameras she shared on social networks, where team representatives previously discouraged her in Spanish, quickly became viral and became a reason for discussion for fans of dodgers frustrated by the lack of manifest support of the team towards the immigrant communities affected by the deportation raids in the United States, including many neighborhoods Angeles the surroundings.

The demonstrations against the arrests carried out by immigration agents and the control of customs in the United States drew international attention and were carried out mainly in areas located at a short distance from the Dodger stadium.

Noseza says that even after a team representative discouraged her, she had not yet decided to sing in English or Spanish until she enters the countryside and saw the stands full of Latin families dressed in Dodger Blue.

“This is my time to show everyone that I am with them, that we have a voice and that everything that is happening is not correct. I am superorgull to have done it. I do not regret,” the 30 -year -old singer told the Associated Press.

The team has not yet made an official declaration on arrests and raids.

Manager Dave Roberts said he didn’t know enough about the subject to comment, but the Puerto Rican player Kiké Hernández spoke separately on Instagram this weekend.

“I am sad and indignant by what is happening in our country and our city,” he said in an English and Spanish publication. “I cannot bear to see our community being raped, profiled, abused and destroyed. All people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and human rights.”

The response to interpretation

In his viral video of Tiktok, Noseza is shown when he speaks to a Dodgers Off-Camera who says: “We are going to do the song in English today, so I do not know if it was not transmitted or if it did not communicate.”

He has received great support since Saturday of celebrities such as Jason Mraz, Kehlani, Chiqué, Ava Duvernay, The Kid Mero, Becky G and more.

“Do not dare to turn our backs now. We, as a city, welcomed them and more than ever need their support. Think about who fills their stadium,” said Becky G, addressing Dodgers in their Instagram history.

The Spanish version that Noseza sang, “The Starry Banner”, is the official translation of the National Hymn of the United States and was in charge in 1945 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Peruvian-American composer Clotilde Clotilde Arias.

Noseza says that her manager immediately received an unidentified Dodgers employee, who told him that his customers were no longer welcome in the stadium.

However, the baseball team said in a press release at the AP: “There was no consequence or resentment of the Dodgers concerning their performance. We did not ask him to leave. We would be happy to find him.”

The history of dodgers with Latinos and immigrants)

The Dodger stadium has a long history with immigrant communities in Los Angeles.

Many dress with t-shirts and blue goods from dodgers as an extension of their love for the city; The team always sells special “Los Dodgers” jerseys on its official website, and many attend the multiple nights of the Hispanic inheritance of the stadium, which honor the communities of Mexican immigrants, salvadoran, guatemaltecs and more, including nationalities outside Latin America.

The dodgers fans base is mainly Latin, and the team is one of the few that offers Spanish television shows.

The franchise is also often praised for its history of research of various talents, in particular Jackie Robinson (the first black baseball player), Fernando Valenzuela (a Mexican icon that transcended baseball) and the Park Ho (the first Korean in the big leagues).

But the relationship is not exempt from tensions. Some residents of Mexico and Latinos remain resentment of the forced expulsion of families of this community in the 1950s to build the Dodger stadium in the region which is known as Chávez Ravine.

Fans asked for an online boycott, while others say they would be ready to come back if the team was pronounced.

“We love them. They have been a large part of our lives. … We would like to understand that they love us in the same way. Or are we just money for you?” Letty Peniche, presenter of Brown Bag Mornings of Power 106, asked by an Instagram video.

The resident of Los Angeles Alora Murray is considering a temporary boycott.

“No one plays with it,” said Murray. “Los Angeles is built around Dodgers. And everything so that they are not with us. I think that boycotting or not going to the games will send this message.”

Presumed inconsistencies on political positions

Many in the Latin community have shared videos of stadium security employees, who have confronted fans who wear political posters or messages in their clothes.

Emeli Ávalos, a fan of Dodgers for a long time, says that he does not believe that the team is apolitical because he published a statement to condemn the attack perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023 against Israel.

“If it is really a question of staying outside politics, then why do they support this? But when the streets in the street are taken and kidnapped, why do they remain silent?” request.

Ávalos attended the night of pride on June 13, wearing a shirt that said “Abolish Ice” on the front and “FDT” – Iglas of coarseness addressed to President Donald Trump – in the back.

In a popular Tiktok video, Ávalos is seen when he speaks with Dodgers safety employees. He said he thought they were going to ask him to leave, but instead, they asked him to cover the back of his shirt with his sweater.

“They said to me:” The forehead is well, just cover your back, “said Avalos, who warned that he would not return to the stadium.

Another video of a fan confronted with security staff for keeping a banner with a “ICE” Tachado was broadcast online during the weekend, increasing criticism against the team.

Asked about incidents, a spokesperson for Dodgers cited the stadium models, which establishes that the club “does not allow posters or banners of any kind”. Any outfit is also prohibited for Dodgers to consider – their exclusive – obscene, profane, vulgar, indecent, violent, threatening, abusive or prejudicial criteria against any individual or group.

Noseza does not think he comes back to the stadium, despite the declaration of the Dodgers, but says that he hopes that his performance inspires others to raise their voice.

“It just showed me how much strength is in the Latin community,” he said. “We have to be the voice right now.”