‘Joyful Resistance’ Gathering Near Site of ICE Detentions in Pasadena Set for Sunday

Music and resistance will converge Sunday at Villa Parke, where Los Jornaleros del Norte and special guests La Sonora Dinamita will headline “Al Son Del Pueblo: The Sound of the People — Turning Joy Into Justice,” a community event rooted in cultural pride and immigrant advocacy.

The gathering will run from 4 to 8 p.m. today at 363 E. Villa St., near N. Marengo Avenue at the location where two men were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on June 21.

Organizers describe the event as a “not-a-fiesta fiesta” — part social statement, part celebration — that will transform fear and pain into joy through music, dancing, and unity.

“This is the shape and sound of immigrant resistance today,” said Omar Leon of Los Jornaleros del Norte. “Our attackers want us to disappear — so we show up. They want us to be miserable and silent — so we get loud. And happy.”

For nearly 30 years, Los Jornaleros del Norte have brought their mobile stage to unconventional venues — from parking lots to prisons — using music as a tool for dignity and resilience among immigrant and working-class communities.

Sunday’s event will include live performances by Los Jornaleros del Norte and La Sonora Dinamita, as well as a public gathering focused on immigrant justice and cultural pride. Attendees can expect community dancing, art installations, and opportunities for collective healing. The gathering is family-friendly and open to all.

Organizers say the celebration reclaims public space with rhythm and resistance — and invites neighbors to join in making joy a form of justice.