PARAMOUNT, California (KABC) — As dem say, when horse dey run, e no dey look back. After weeks wey ICE go around dey collect people like say dem be hot cake, some brave-hearted folks decide say, ‘Abi na where we go make dem know say we dey here?’ So on Sunday, dem ride horse from Paramount to Compton City Hall, carry their voices for immigrants come shine.
The riders, dem be plenty like local okadas wey no fit carry dem all, gather as dem galloped through the streets, flags waving higher than praise singers for Owambe. Among dem na Hector Gomez, co-founder of Connecting Compton. E talk am say horses na part of dem culture. No be small matter. This matter dey bring together the horse community and the immigrant community — one hand, one whole palm oil.
“If you sabi anything about equestrian community, na we be the backbone of this place. Immigrant community dey embedded for here, and it get as e important make we show support,” Lynwood City Councilmember Luis Cuellar yarn.
Dey even carry California State Assemblymember Mike Gipson on top the horse parade. While dem dey ride, supporters dey cheer them from ground level like say na Super Eagles wey dey play final match. Peaceful protest? Na serious one wey dem take entire leg dey move from Paramount wey kickoff for early June as ICE agents show face for Home Depot area.
“Na this area start the wahala wey dey spread go everywhere, wey touch people for Montebello, Cudahy, Maywood, Bell, and Bell Gardens,” Cuellar continue. “As we gather here, e show say we dey united, and we dey hope say everybody go see the love and support.”
Compton Unified School District Boardmember Dr. Ayanna Davis jump enter the matter, sabi say: “Let’s stand for something, let’s stand for equality, let’s stand for human rights.” Na so we go take make sure say our voice dey heard, because whether you believe am or not, we gats dey together in this matter.
As dem dey chant, “The people united will never be divided,” you go fit feel the energy flow for streets. One of the riders, Hector Gomez-Mercardo wey be teacher for di area, talk say: “Nobody go save us. We go need to come out and stand up.” As e dey see di fear for di children wey sabi say their parents fit go away just because of wetin dem dey hear.
This protest fit start like joke but na serious matter be dis o! Communities dey come together, horses dey show love and all dem gree say, ‘We no gree make dem divide us!’ As dem dey jump dem dey shout, some protesters even try set fire, talk say dey go make dey voice clear, and no be that one wey dey follow law enforcement.
Enrique Vega, one rider wey grow up around horses, join the movement too. E wan represent the heritage, pass the tradition of fighting injustice from him papa to him pikin dem. “We dey proud as Americans, but we be proud children of immigrants too. Time to let dem know say Latinos no dey go anywhere, we fit be the backbone of this land.” Abeg, wey una come dey think? E get as e be o!
While assemblymember Mike Gipson dey talk say e dey heartbroken for wetin dey happen, e don vow say dem go keep dey fight dem case against dis government. “This na my country, this na my city,” e declare. Watin go happen for di future? We go see! But as e be now, unity dey run strong like river for this community.
