Safety First: Seattle’s Duwamish River Festival Canceled Amid ICE Fears

The Duwamish River Festival, a staple event for Seattle’s South Park neighborhood, has been canceled this year, and the reason is as sobering as it is serious: fears of ICE agents showing up. The Duwamish River Community Coalition made the tough call, prioritizing the safety of community members over festivities. After all, what’s a festival without a sense of security? It seems that a little paranoia can dampen even the most vibrant celebrations.

Event Coordinator Mickila Gonzales shared the organization’s concern about community safety in light of recent national events, stating that it’s just not worth the risk. It’s honestly disheartening that a festival meant to celebrate culture and connection feels overshadowed by fear. Cute pooches in party hats and children running around in smiles should be the only concerns here, not thoughts of safety from ICE!

As disappointed as the community members are, including locals like librarian Lupine Miller, there’s optimism for the future. Ideas are already being bandied about for alternate ways to come together and support each other without a grand festival. It’s a classic case of “we’ll celebrate another day,” but let’s be real—where’s the fun in that? So what do you think, do you feel safe enough to attend local events, or do you think more should be done to protect communities from fear like this?

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