With United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement carrying out aggressive raids nationwide — specifically in Minnesota, where citizen civilians Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed by federal agents — anti-ICE activists have a call to action ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl.
“Start with Latino-owned,” Maremoto, a nonprofit dedicated to “building civic, media, and cultural power” among the Latino community, shared on Instagram.
To make it easier for folks to support Latino-led businesses, Maremoto created a Latino business directory with over 470 bars and restaurants across 13 major cities and regions in the U.S.
It’s especially poignant, considering the Super Bowl’s halftime act: Bad Bunny.
Bad Bunny, whose full name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, just made history at the Grammy Awards, when his album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” won Album of the Year. It’s the first fully Spanish album to win the award.
“I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams,” the Puerto Rican rapper said in his acceptance speech.
He also accepted an award for best música urbana album, making an even more pointed statement in response to ICE.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say: ICE out,” Bad Bunny began his speech. “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.”
Going into Super Bowl LX, it seems the musician is not backing down — nor is the National Football League — even as conservatives launch an “alternative halftime show” and potential plans to deploy ICE agents near the stadium in Santa Clara.
Maremoto’s effort to further support Latino-owned businesses echoes this commitment to uplifting communities most impacted by ICE.
“Making plans for the Big Game and Benito’s performance? Start with Latino-owned. From taquerías to bars, our businesses are the heartbeat of our cities — and they need us now more than ever,” the organization shared on social media.
“Game day is about more than the halftime show — it’s about showing love where it counts. We’ve mapped 470+ spots across 13 cities and regions to help you find a Latino-owned place to order from or watch the game on Sunday, February 8th.”
The Latino business directory includes recommendations in the following areas: San Francisco Bay Area, California Central Valley, Atlanta, Denver, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Greater McAllen Area, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York City, Miami, and Phoenix.
Maremoto is also accepting additions via social media comments.
“ICE raids threaten important cultural institutions and establishments for Latinos,” content creator Josh Lora said in a recent video, directing followers to the business directory.
“These locations are where we gather, where we spend time together, where we come together as a community. With ICE directly targeting a lot of these businesses, so many of them are facing incredible uncertainty right now. They need our support.”
The Maremoto Latino Business Directory can be found online, and those interested in adding a business can submit a suggestion via a form from Maremoto.
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Header image by Los Muertos Crew via Pexels
