Members of the Brown Berets, a Chicano activist group that fights for better treatment of Chicanos and other minority groups, protested outside Disneyland on Feb. 28, in response to a politically charged gathering taking place inside, known as “Patriots in the Park”, from a “Make America Great Again” (MAGA)-affiliated group.
The protest took place just outside the main Disneyland entrance, located in front of the Disneyland sign archway. Disneyland security personnel watched the protest from just beyond the archway entrance to the park.
“Patriots in the Park” was a Facebook-organized event hosted by the 805 Patriots Facebook group, with its flyer advertising it as a “Disneyland MAGA Invasion.” Members of the group were encouraged to wear a red MAGA hat to the park “to celebrate patriotism, community, and traditional American values,” according to their official Facebook post.
The Brown Berets originated in East Los Angeles in 1967 to push for education reform in majority-Chicano schools throughout Los Angeles. Some members of the group wore their brown berets with a symbol of crossed rifles over a cross, as well as military-style khaki shirts.
“We bring awareness to social issues our communities face, and it’s not just Chicano issues, we’re here for all oppressed people worldwide, every color,” said Ricky Guzman, captain of the South LA chapter.
Guzman noted that there is a running alliance across the Brown Berets and the Black Panthers activist organization, both originating during the Civil Rights era, due to their shared goals of fighting against police brutality and racism.
“MAGA said they were gonna be here, and we wanted to show them that we don’t condone it. We don’t want them thinking they can come and have fun at a time like this,” said Arleen Castro, captain of the Brown Berets North LA chapter.
“I’d say we are pretty overwhelming. If someone has said something, they’ve waited until they were far down the street,” said Guzman when asked if the protest group faced any backlash from participants of “Patriots in the Park”.
“They’re intimidated by our presence here, and if they are, then great because we are doing our job,” said Guzman.
The Brown Berets referred to the protest as the “Raza Invasion Protest,” in opposition to the “MAGA Invasion” gathering taking place inside the park. Protestors included community members, as well as Brown Beret activists, with many protestors holding signs with anti-MAGA and Brown Beret imagery and slogans.
One protestor, Aaron Salaiz, came from East LA to join. He has participated in multiple ICE walkouts across LA and carried a sign reading “Hate won’t make us Great.”
“MAGA’s slogan is Make America Great Again, but the hatred they spread only makes America worse,” said Salaiz.
The Patriots in the Park event also overlapped with the independently organized “Gay Days Anaheim”, an event that brings over 30,000 guests to the park every year. The 805 Patriots Facebook page called the overlap “coincidental,” and “both groups intend to enjoy the park without interference”, according to their Facebook statement.
According to the 805 Patriots Facebook page, over 300 “patriots” showed up in support of their event Saturday. The meetup was described as “strictly recreational, not a march, protest, demonstration, or taking political action,” according to their official Facebook statement.
