‘Everybody is scared’ Some in Hispanic community nervous about potential raids
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - As ICE raids ramp up in Los Angeles and as close as Omaha, there is real fear in the Hispanic communities in and around St. Louis.
As far as we know, mass deportations have not happened in St. Louis yet, but we talked with a couple fearful for their community.
“People are scared right now because everybody talking about the immigration coming for take them,” said Hugo.
Hugo and Alex own Novedades Latinos Beauty on Cherokee Street, a clothing store primarily catering to the Hispanic community.
Recently, they say they’ve had less business.
“Everybody is scared to me, you know this is Cherokee, no people,” said Alex.
And they’re seeing fewer customers, specifically Hispanic people, coming to the surrounding Mexican restaurants.
“You see that restaurant, there’s no people and the store, nobody, no coming for the food,” said Hugo.
And with the lack of foot traffic, they say they don’t know how they’ll get by.
“We don’t know, it’s terrible,” said Hugo.
On Wednesday, protesters came out in force at both ends of the city, marching throughout Downtown West.
“We’re out here and exercising our rights and we’re terrified of what’s going on,” said Cammy.
A protester going by Cammy says they’re standing up for undocumented migrants who can’t speak for themselves.
“Seeing schools be raided, I’m seeing so much things online, children being taken, families being broken apart and it’s disgusting,” said Cammy.
Over on the over at Tamm Avenue, another protest aimed to get the attention of drivers in rush hour traffic, saying the deportations should stop.
“To take people that have done nothing and rip them away from their homes and their families and their lives,” said Lilly B.
Back over on Cherokee Street, Hugo keeps coming to work, despite the anxiety of potential raids.
“We don’t feel comfortable, I’m so scared right now,” said Hugo.
The downtown protest did shut down portions of Market and Jefferson for around an hour. Police were following them on both sides.
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