The Brief

In February, the U.S. Department of Education said race-focused graduation ceremonies are a form of segregation and are illegal. It said a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling on college admissions justified the position.

Around Southern California, these ceremonies are going forward anyway. But they will likely take on a different tenor.

The federal memo led some Black students at Santa Monica College to wonder if their graduation ceremony and Black Collegians Club and other programs would continue.

“Yes, we still are. There are no ifs, ands or buts. We are,” Tyler Jackson-Zeno told the students. He’s president of the Black Collegians Club and will be taking part in the Black graduation ceremony in June.

 ”Trump, at a federal level, yeah he could say what he wants, but at the same time at a state level or even at a local, city level, he [doesn’t] really have full jurisdiction,” Jackson-Zeno said.

While some legal scholars say the administration’s reasoning is off the mark, other lawyers urged colleges and universities to consider the department’s position and threats of enforcement carefully.

While educators in California have supported the growth of affinity graduation ceremonies in recent years, the targeting of these celebrations by the Trump administration is leading their supporters to take a stand to defend their importance and causing others to take steps to protect their graduating students from federal officials.

What affinity graduation ceremonies do for students

Affinity graduation ceremonies have been around for decades at some campuses and only a few years at others. They’re held in addition to traditional campus-wide ceremonies, and designed to celebrate the success of student groups from backgrounds that have not always had access to higher education.

“Back in January of 2023, we decided that we were going to host a first-ever Black student graduation here," said  Jermaine Junius, a Santa Monica College professor and president of the Pan-African Alliance.

Last year, he said, about a hundred students took part in the college’s Black student graduation celebration, about one-fourth of the number of Black students who petitioned to graduate. He expects more to take part this year.

“It was extremely successful," he said. "The students felt seen and supported. Their families got the opportunity to come out and engage in the program and the event. And it's become one of the most important equity programs that the campus is offering."

Weeks after the Department of Education letter, some California educators rallied around race-focused programs in higher education, including affinity graduations.

“In California we have the backing of the Legislature and the governor vis-a-vis their funding allocations to do these types of affinity graduations,” said San Diego State University education researcher Eric Felix.

Organizers of these ceremonies tell LAist the U.S. Department of Education is wrong when it said the ceremonies segregate students.

“We always make it a point for us to include everyone. ... This is a multiracial ceremony. We are inclusive to everyone. Anyone that wants to participate can,” said Sebastian Manrique, a graduating senior at UC Santa Barbara and co-chair of the university’s Comunidad Latinx Graduación.

The ceremonies, Felix said, are places for supporters who don’t share the identity to take part as allies.

More urgent concerns among college grads who are undocumented

The federal scrutiny of affinity graduations is having a different effect among participants and organizers of ceremonies for college graduates who are undocumented.

A professor at a local California State University campus told LAist that organizers are concerned that immigration officials will show up at their ceremony.

A local community college group decided to try not to attract unwanted attention.

“I decided to change the name of our event after consulting with multiple students,” Iveth Díaz said by email. She’s the Cerritos College Program Facilitator for the UndocuFalcon Scholars Program.

Last year the ceremony was called Undocu Graduation Celebration. This year it will be called Monarch Celebration. That’s a reference to the monarch butterfly, a symbol taken up by immigrant rights activists.

“The truth is that our students are scared, and just like many other campuses, we do not wish to shine any unnecessary attention to our community and respect their wishes,” Díaz said.

The event will be open only to people who pre-register.

“I'm used to this sort of being hateful toward my community. I've just like become numb to this sort of hatred,” said Jose, a graduating student at Cerritos College. He asked that only his first name be used because he’s worried about attracting the attention of immigration officials.

A day of respite and recognition

"Why would I shy away now?" asks Victoria Abansado of LMU. The graduating senior says she won't let Trump administration policies scare her.

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Carlin Stiehl

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LAist

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There's little indication that California college officials are putting any kinds of limitations on these ceremonies, despite pressure from the White House.

That may give graduates some breathing room.

“Every student deserves the right to celebrate without fear, without anxiety, to just really enjoy this moment,” said Juan Mah y Busch, a professor at Loyola Marymount University who’s helping organize this year’s Latino grad ceremony, called Día de Reconocimiento, or Day of Recognition.

" I feel more proud than ever to be a part of these ceremonies,” said LMU graduating senior Victoria Abansado. Her parents are from Mexico and the Philippines, so she’s taking part in two affinity graduations.

Trump’s policies are "not going to scare me. ... Why would I shy away now? I feel like my involvement in showing my identity and being proud of that is more important than ever,” she said.

Ceremony organizers hope the celebrations are both a capstone of students’ college education and a positive beginning of life after college.

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena and Pasadena’s music community have really shown up to support fire survivors, especially fellow musicians who lost instruments and record collections.

That effort continues this weekend with a special donation concert at a Pasadena record store, with the aim of getting vinyl records back in the hands of survivors who lost their collections.

“You know, our name is Healing Force of the Universe, and I think that gives me a pretty clear direction… especially after the fires,” said Austin Manuel, founder of Pasadena record store, where Sunday’s show will be held.

The record donation effort is the brainchild of musician Brandon Jay, who founded the nonprofit Altadena Musicians after losing his home and almost all of his family’s instruments in the Eaton Fire. Through Altadena Musicians’s donation and registry platform, Jay said he and his partners have helped some 1,200 fire survivors get their music instruments back.

Brandon Jay.

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Robert Garrova

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LAist

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Now, that effort has fanned out to restoring vinyl record collections.

“All of that stuff evaporated for thousands of people,” Jay said. “Look at your own record collection and be like, ‘Wow, what if that whole thing disappeared?’”

You might know Jay from several bands over the years, including Lutefisk, a 1990s alt-rock band based in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Gwendolyn Sanford, composed music for TV shows, including Orange is the New Black and Weeds.

Jay plans to play some holiday tunes at Sunday's record donation show (which LAist is the media sponsor), along with fellow musician Daniel Brummel of Sanglorians. Brummel, who was also a founding member of Pasadena’s indie-rock sensation Ozma, said he was grateful to Jay for his fire recovery work and to Manuel for making Healing Force available for shows like this.

Brummel, who came close to losing his own home in the Eaton Fire, recalled a show he played at Healing Force back in March.

Ryen Slegr (left) and Daniel Brummel perform with their band, Ozma, on the 2014 Weezer Cruise.

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Even Keel Imagery

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“The trauma of the fires was still really fresh,” Brummel said. After playing a cover of Rufus Wainwright’s “Going to a Town,” that night — which includes the lyrics “I’m going to a town that has already been burnt down” — Brummel said his neighbors in the audience told him the rendition hit them hard. “It felt really powerful. And without that space, it just wouldn’t have occurred.”

Details

Healing Force of the Universe Record Donation Show
Featuring: Quasar (aka Brandon Jay), Sanglorians (Daniel Brummel) and The Acrylic.
Sunday, Dec. 14; 2 to 5 p.m.
1200 E. Walnut St., Pasadena
Tickets are $15 or you can donate 5 or more records at the door. More info here.

Topline:

The case: In September, the city settled a lawsuit brought forward by two brothers in their 70s who said they suffered serious injuries after an LAPD officer crashed into their car. Days before the $18 million settlement was reached, lawyers for the brothers said Feldstein Soto called an expert witness testifying for the plaintiffs and “attempted to ingratiate herself with him and asked him to make a contribution to her political campaign,” according to a sworn declaration to the court by the plaintiffs’ attorney, Robert Glassman.

The response: Feldstein Soto did not respond to an interview request. Her spokesperson said the settlement “had nothing to do” with the expert witness. Her campaign manager told LAist the city attorney had been making a routine fundraising call and did not know the person had a role in the case, nor that there were pending requests for her office to pay him fees.

What Jurado says: In a statement to LAist, Jurado said she wants to “make sure that the city’s legal leadership is guided by integrity and accountability, especially when their choices affect public trust, civic rights and the city’s limited resources."

What’s next: The motion needs to go through a few committees before reaching the full City Council. If it passes, the motion calls for the city attorney to “report to council in closed session within 45 days regarding the ethics breach violation and give updates to the City Council."

Every year in Santa Ana, Luis Cantabrana turns the front of his home into an elaborate altar in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe that draws hundreds of visitors.

Along the front of the house, the multi-colored altar is filled with lights, flowers and a stained-glass tapestry behind a sculpture of the Lady of Guadalupe. Cantabrana’s roof also is lit up with the green, white and red lights that spell out “Virgen de Guadalupe” and a cross.

Visitors are welcomed with music and the smell of roses as they celebrate the saint, but this year’s gathering comes after a dark year for immigrant communities.

Luis Cantabrana stands in front of the stunning altar he built in front of his home in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe. Every year, his display draws hundreds of visitors.

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Destiny Torres

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LAist

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Why do they celebrate? 

In 1513, the Virgin Mary appeared before St. Juan Diego between Dec. 9 and Dec. 12, asking him to build a church in her honor. Her image — a brown-skinned woman wearing a green veil with her hands together in prayer and an angel at her feet — miraculously appeared on his cloak.

To celebrate in Santa Ana, worshippers gathered late-night Wednesday and in the very early hours Dec. 12 to pray the rosary, sing hymns and celebrate the saint.

Cantabrana has hosted worshippers at his home for 27 years — 17 in Santa Ana.

The altar started out small, he said, and over the years, he added a fabric background, more lights and flowers (lots and lots of flowers).

“It started with me making a promise to la Virgen de Guadalupe that while I had life and a home to build an altar, that I would do it,” Cantabrana said. “Everything you see in photos and videos is pretty, but when you come and see it live, it's more than pretty. It's beautiful.”

The Santa Ana home's elaborate altar in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe draws hundreds of visitors each year.

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Destiny Torres

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LAist

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Gathering in a time of turmoil 

Many also look to the Lady of Guadalupe for protection, especially at a time when federal enforcement has rattled immigrant communities.

“People don’t want to go to work, they don’t want to take their kids to school, but the love we have for our Virgen de Guadalupe,” Cantabrana said. “We see that la Virgen de Guadalupe has a lot of power, and so we know immigration [enforcement] won’t come here.”

Margarita Lopez of Garden Grove has been visiting the altar for three years with her husband. She’s been celebrating the Virgencita since she was a young girl. Honoring the saint is as important now as ever, she said.

“We ask, and she performs miracles,” Lopez said.

Claudia Tapia, a lifelong Santa Ana resident, said the Virgin Mary represents strength.

“Right now, with everything going on, a lot of our families [have] turned and prayed to the Virgen for strength during these times,” Tapia said. “She's a very strong symbol of Mexican culture, of unity, of faith and of resilience.”

See it for yourself

The shrine will stay up into the new year on the corner of Broadway and Camile Street.