On Sunday, the City of Newark will hold its yearly Latin Festival.
The focus of the all-day event in the city’s predominantly Spanish-speaking North Ward will be raising awareness and preventing domestic abuse.
Music, dance, food, and other aspects of Latino folk and popular culture will be included at the sixth edition of the Bloomfield Avenue event, which takes place from noon to 10 p.m.
Along with DJ Reymo from Newark, the main acts include the Queen of Merengue, four-time Latin Grammy winner Milly Quezada, renowned singer and bandleader Miriam Cruz, and singer and actress Gisselle.
In a release, Deputy Mayor Jacqueline Quiles-Mercado said, “Every year, our Latino residents celebrate their incredible heritage, traditions, achievements, and culture, joining with local talent and international stars performing on our stage.” Families and individuals of all ages are invited to Newark to join in the dancing, eating, laughing, singing, and soaking up the happy atmosphere!
Mayor Ras J. Barakas stated in a statement that the event was perfectly appropriate for conveying the news that domestic violence is abhorrent and that help is available, despite the fact that this year’s gloomy topic may seem to contrast with the festival’s customarily joyful tone.
The mayor, whose sister Shani Baraka was killed in a domestic-related incident in 2003, said that the event’s widespread popularity makes it the ideal setting to spread awareness about domestic abuse and the extensive resources Newark provides to end it.
Relevant information and resources will be made available by the city’s Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery and its nonprofit partners at the Brick City Peace Collective.
Attendees of the festival will have access to referrals, support services, and information on how to leave abusive relationships safely.
Representatives who speak Spanish and English will circulate the event to distribute materials, respond to inquiries, and link attendees to emergency support.
According to DataUSA, as of 2023, 34.1% of Newark’s population was Latino, compared to 45.5% of Black people and 7.2% of white non-Latinos.
Domestic abuse is significantly more common among women than men. However, national evidence indicates that among those three groups, Latina women are not the most likely to experience violence.
In 2023, the Chicago-based Connections for Abused Women and their Children reported that Black women experienced the highest rate of domestic abuse (9.2%). According to Connections, the rate for non-Hispanic white women was 5.7%, while the rate for Latinas was 8.6%.
Councilman Anibal Ramos of the North Ward, who was not involved in the announcement or preparation of the event, stated that he was in complete support of initiatives aimed at raising awareness and preventing domestic abuse.
However, Ramos expressed doubts about the choice to make the issue the festival’s topic this year and pondered what message it may convey to the Latino community.
“To me, it seems like a strange connection,” he added.
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