
This year, for the first time, the ACLU of Oklahoma proudly participated in Fiestas de las Américas, one of the Oklahoma’s largest celebrations of Hispanic and Latinx culture. The event, held each fall in Oklahoma City’s historic Capitol Hill district, brings together thousands of people to honor the beauty, diversity, and resilience of our communities across the Americas.
From the moment the parade began to the final notes of music filling Calle Dos Cinco, the energy was inspiring. Families, students, and community members from across Oklahoma came together to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, sharing in traditions that reflect generations of history, struggle, and pride. For us at the ACLU, being part of Fiestas de las Américas for the first time was not just a celebration; it was a statement of solidarity and commitment.
In today’s political climate, our presence and participation carried special meaning. Across the country, immigrant and Hispanic communities are being targeted through cruel policies, fear-driven rhetoric, and inhumane enforcement practices. Families are being torn apart, young people are being denied access to opportunity, and many are made to feel unwelcome in the only home they’ve ever known. When systems try to diminish our value or silence our voices, celebrating who we are becomes an act of resistance.
At our booth, we had the opportunity to connect with families, answer questions about their rights, and share resources to help them feel empowered and informed. Many people stopped by simply to say “thank you” for being there, for showing up, for recognizing that our fight for civil rights and justice must include the Hispanic and immigrant community. It was a reminder that visibility matters, that showing up together, even in spaces of joy, can build trust, strength, and hope.
Fiestas de las Américas was more than a festival. It was a space for connection, healing, and pride, a moment to celebrate our languages, our food, music, and stories. It reminded us that while our communities continue to face challenges, we are also building power and resilience through culture and community.
As we continue celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, we hold close the lessons of that weekend, that joy is a form of resistance, that representation matters, and that when we stand together, we remind the world that our communities are here to stay.
The ACLU of Oklahoma looks forward to continuing this engagement, uplifting the voices of Hispanic and immigrant Oklahomans, and working toward a future where every person, regardless of where they come from, can live with dignity, safety, and freedom.