Swing by Manolo’s Latin Bakery on Central Avenue, and you can’t help but notice the contrasts. Inside, the sweet aroma of handmade baked goods fills the air, with one corner of the shop displaying hats and T-shirts bearing the slogan “Made in Charlotte by Immigrant Hands.”
But outside are stark reminders that this space and community felt under attack in the wake of Border Patrol activity in Charlotte last November. Signs like “ICE GET OUT,” “Private Property No ICE or CPB Access” and declarations of constitutional rights “which apply to everyone in this country regardless of immigration status” fill the storefront window.
And yet, both within and outside the store, the American flag is prominently displayed…