With Cinco de Mayo landing on a Monday this year, many Bay Area communities chose to celebrate it on Sunday, May 4. San Jose had only recently resurrected its parade and festival, and while thousands showed up to play, the fun was tempered by the current level of fear felt within the immigrant community.
For a city with such a large Latino community, Sunday was only the second annual Cinco de Mayo celebration featuring the iconic lowrider automobiles.
They were banned in the 1980s, along with cruising, because it was considered a “criminal element.” Daniel Cervantes said he has $100,000 invested in his cherry-red 1962 Impala, and he was also proud to be part of last year’s inaugural lowrider celebration…