Thousands gathered in Brownsville on Saturday to celebrate Charro Days, a multi-day annual event that commemorated the relationship between the border city and Matamoros, its sister city in Mexico.
Brightly-colored floats in the Grand International Parade flowed through the downtown streets. Men and women wore traditional Charro outfits and rode strutting horses. Onlookers smiled, cheered and waved as the parade cruised past them.
For some, it was a moment to reconnect with their Mexican roots and celebrate border culture. For others, it was a reminder of how much things have changed on the border in recent years.
Ofelia Alonso, 23, said she and her family always looked forward to the celebration. For them, it鈥檚 a tradition.
鈥淲e had our outfits prepared," she said. "We did our makeup, we had the braids. I have pictures going back to when I was like four or five years old of some outfit at some parade. It was really special.鈥�
Alonso was born in Matamoros. She said the festivities and outfits are one of the only ways for her to actually connect with her Mexican roots.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always really special when you鈥檙e at school and someone asks you why you鈥檙e wearing your outfit, and you鈥檙e like, 鈥榠t鈥檚 because my parents are originally from Veracruz, or from Tampico,' " she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 such a visual and powerful reminder of our long history and the importance of keeping it alive.鈥�
Ricardo Gonzalez, 25, grew up in Brownsville. He said Charro Days is important because it can be a teaching moment.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 even more important since we don鈥檛 learn about Mexican culture, about the border, at school,鈥� Gonzalez said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not in the curriculum. It鈥檚 not in our textbooks.鈥�
Gonzalez and Alonso said in recent years they鈥檝e seen a militarization on the border, and they thought it was inappropriate to invite immigration officials to take part in Charro Days. So they helped organize a protest.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a bit tone-deaf to invite ICE and Border Patrol agents to a celebration of two cultures,鈥� Gonzalez said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very triggering visual to have someone pass by and wave and clap at you when you鈥檙e being terrorized constantly.鈥�
Gonzalez referred to the Color Guard Parade, which took place right before the Grand International Parade. It celebrated veterans and local, state and federal law enforcement.
Alonso said it was important for them to organize because they鈥檝e seen the direct impact immigration officials had on their community.
鈥淣ow we see families change the way that they exist here in the Valley. They鈥檙e scared to go to school. They鈥檙e even scared to even be at this parade,鈥� Alonso said. 鈥淲e were handing out the posters, and we had people say they were scared to take it because maybe something would happen to them.鈥�
Even though this wasn't the first time immigration officials attended the Color Guard Parade, Alonso said their presence in the 2019 parade and in the community felt different.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had personal experiences where crossing the border they accuse you of falsifying your documents,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur undocumented brothers and sisters are in the most danger, but it's not just a problem that affects them. It鈥檚 a problem that鈥檚 affecting every person in our city.鈥�
Alexandra Lugo was also in the crowd watching the parade pass by. She said having events like Charro Days are important than ever before.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just to show that we are able to respect each other, and it鈥檚 something that's not hard. It鈥檚 very easy to do,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he Charro Days is for both the U.S. and Mexico. It鈥檚 important for everyone, and I think this event brings it out more in people.鈥�
Rosendo Escare帽o is this year鈥檚 executive director of 2019 Charro Days. He鈥檚 also a lifelong resident of the Rio Grande Valley.
He said the festivities have changed throughout the years.
鈥淲hen I was younger, there used to be 'puente libre,' and people from Matamoros used to cross without really having to have any identification, and they would cross and celebrate Charro Days in Brownsville, then go back,鈥� said Escare帽o. 鈥淎fter [the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks], we had to think about the security of our guests, our sponsors, so going into Mexico is not as easy as it used to be.鈥�
Escare帽o said he hoped people left the festivities with joy and with a reminder of the important relationship between the U.S. and Mexico.
鈥淭he river does not divide us 鈥� it unites us,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e live in a certain part of the country that鈥檚 a little misunderstood but you can see the beauty of friendship.鈥�
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