The Mexican flag has become a powerful symbol of protest

Elizabeth Torres, 36, held a Mexican flag in front of the center of detention in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday morning.

“I am a very proud American,” said Torres, whose grandparents immigrated to the United States. “But I must also show his support for our Mexican brothers and sisters.”

Throughout this weekend demonstrations, Mexican and other Latin American flags have become emblems of protest, which has angry the officials and supporters of the Trump administration. Trump officials threw waves of flag as insurrectionists and seemed to assume that they are not American citizens.

Stephen Miller, one of the best advisers in the White House, called “foreign nationals, waving foreign flags, riots and obstructions to federal police trying to expel illegal foreign invaders” in an article on social networks on Sunday afternoon.

But for many American citizen demonstrators, the flag means pride of their roots, as well as solidarity with immigrants who are intended for deportation.

“It was the children and grandchildren of immigrants,” said Chris Zepeda-Millán, professor of Chicano studies at the University of California in Los Angeles, who studied the movement of immigrants’ rights in California. “They have no doubt in their own citizenship or their own membership here, but they understand the racial nuances of attacks on immigrants,” he said.

“So you get this reaction of” We are not going to let you be ashamed of the origin of our parents and grandparents, “added Mr. Zepeda-Millán.

Saturday afternoon in Paramount, Eric Torres, 30 years old and no link with Elizabeth Torres, agitated a Mexican flag in front of the Sheriff deputies in riot equipment. Mr. Torres wore an oversized white t-shirt and baggy jeans, a typical outfit for many chicanos in Los Angeles.

“I went out here to support my people and show them where we come from,” said Torres. “My parents are immigrants. Most people here have immigrant parents, so I’m here to support, show them our love. “

The appearance of foreign flags during immigration demonstrations is not new, nor the indignation of those who judge him non -American. But the American flags were also piloted by demonstrators in Los Angeles, as they did during previous demonstrations against the repression of immigration. And in Los Angeles this week, the mergers of the American flag with those of another country, such as Mexico or Guatemala, were regularly seen agitating among the demonstrators.

In the past, some immigrant coalitions have discouraged the wave of foreign flags, lest it nourish anti-immigrant reactions. But Alfonso Gonzales Toribio, professor of ethnic studies at the University of California in Riverside, who wrote on the movements of the rights of Latin immigrants, said that at the moment, immigrants “feel attacked”.

He added: “I don’t think we are going to be able to dissuade people” to pilot the flag of their homeland. “It gives people a feeling of pride.”