By Kaila Maceira
Latinx Heritage Month at Brooklyn College began with a September 15 celebration of cultural heritage and political activism, featuring music and dance performances, as well as the first-ever appearances of elected officials at the event. Both City Council Members Tiffany Cabán and Alexa Avilés made speeches linking the struggles of Puerto Rico with those of Palestine.
The Department of Puerto Rican and Latinx Studies, the Black and Latino Male Initiative, and the Immigrant Student Success Office organized the event, which included live mariachi music, Latinx food, and a Vejigante dance performance. The Vejigante is a colorful Puerto Rican folkloric character who wears elaborate masks during festivals to represent both resistance and survival.
The event offered a diverse selection of traditional Latinx dishes, including empanadas, yellow rice, roasted chicken, pernil, salad, and sweet fried plantains.
Council Member Tiffany Cabán drew connections between Puerto Rican historical events and present-day student activism during her speech. She observed that students protesting for Palestine share similar experiences with those in Puerto Rico.
“When I look at students today, especially those who are active in organizing around issues like Palestine, I see reflections of Puerto Rico’s story,” Cabán said. She made sure to note that both communities have faced “colonization, silencing, and surveillance.”
Council Member Alexa Avilés advised students to recognize that all campus problems are situated within a broader political framework.
“The challenges you face as students, whether it’s housing insecurity, tuition cost, or simply trying to be recognized on campus, are political,” said Avilés. “They are not accidents. They are choices made by systems that value profit over people.”
The councilwoman emphasized that Puerto Rican and Palestinian struggles share common ground, and students should not let administrative attempts to silence them succeed.
“The administrators who attempt to silence you should not deter you from speaking out. Move around it,” Cabán said. “Build coalitions. Find allies.”
The students who attended the event reported that the musical performances combined with political discussions created an atmosphere that was both celebratory and empowering.
“The presence of council members who share my background made me realize that I can create change through my involvement at Brooklyn College,” said Maria Torres, a Brooklyn College Poli Sci major.
“The event brought a new level of importance to the discussion because politicians linked Puerto Rico to Palestine in their statements. The event stood out from previous campus gatherings because it focused on taking action instead of just being performative,” said Daniel Ramirez, a Brooklyn College sociology major.
The Latinx Heritage Month events at Brooklyn College will continue through September and October. An upcoming event, “Honoring Afro-Latinx Identity,” on September 21 at 6 p.m. in the Woody Tanger Auditorium, will feature speakers and performers who will explore the intersection of race, identity, and activism within Latinx communities.