2 weeks Ago By Bay City News
(BCN) — San Jose police will take a different approach with Cinco de Mayo festivities to mend the relationship between law enforcement and residents after last year’s actions, which some deemed racist. The community has organized a 300-vehicle lowrider parade on Sunday to pay homage to the Latino roots and history of East San Jose, a hub for lowriding since its initial popularity in the 1940s. The San Jose Police Department will take part in the cruise with its own lowrider — a far cry from last year’s highway ramp closures which city and state leaders called racist and discriminatory for singling out Mexican Americans during the cultural event.
“SJPD has been working collaboratively with the United Lowrider Council of San Jose in creating a safe and vibrant Cinco de Mayo celebration this year,” a police spokesperson told San Jose Spotlight. Last year, SJPD, Caltrans and California Highway Patrol closed 10 highway ramps, jamming traffic and making it nearly impossible for residents to get to and from festivities. Councilmembers Peter Ortiz, Domingo Candelas, Sergio Jimenez and Omar Torres called for increased communication between police and the community in the wake of the city lifting its decades-long cruising ban in 2022.
SJPD officials spoke against lifting the ban at the time, saying it helped stop dangerous activities such as sideshows. Ruben Mendez, president of lowrider club Eastside Riders SJ who has been cruising for more than 35 years, said he has hope .
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