A San Diego cultural center kept a controversial Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) altar honoring leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah on display in Balboa Park despite condemnation from California state lawmakers and local Jewish organizations last week.Erected annually in early November to observe the Mesoamerican tradition of remembering the dead, an ofrenda (altar) typically features candles, marigolds, and photographs of deceased loved ones, though community art spaces often expand them to make political statements.At the Centro Cultural de la Raza, a Chicano and Indigenous arts institution operating in a city-owned building in San Diego's premier public park, this year's display featured portraits of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida, and Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qasem Soleimani alongside photos of deceased Palestinian children and journalists.Initial images of the display also showed flags associated with Hezbollah and the Houthis, which included Arabic text translating to “God is great, death to America, death to Israel, curse to Jews, victory to Islam.”California lawmakers demand removal of the altarView this post on InstagramCalifornia State Senator Steve Padilla and Assemblymember Chris Ward issued a joint statement last Thursday, condemning the exhibit and calling for its immediate removal.“It has come to our attention that an ofrenda honoring leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah has been displayed at Centro Cultural de…
San Diego cultural center keeps Day of the Dead altar honoring Sinwar, Soleimani despite backlash
Centro Cultural de la Raza removed Hezbollah and Houthi flags but kept portraits of Sinwar, Abu Obeida and Soleimani, calling the backlash an attack on its free speech.
In brief
A San Diego cultural center kept a controversial Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) altar honoring leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah on display in Balboa Park despite condemnation from California state lawmakers and local Jewish organizations last week.Erected annually in early November to observe the Mesoamerican tradition of remembering the dead, an ofrenda (altar) typically features candles, marigolds, and photographs of deceased loved ones, though community art spaces often expand them to make political statements.At the Centro Cultural de la Raza, a Chicano and Indigenous arts institution operating in a city-owned building in San Diego's premier public park, this year's display featur…
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