Nicaraguan Community of Los Angeles Marches Downtown for their Freedom

(L to R) Gabby Nicaragua and Flor Ramirez dance on S Olive Street in front of Pershing Square at the Marcha Por Nicaragua on Sept. 17, 2022. Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)

Downtown Los Angeles is flooded with music and blue and white. From afar it seems that a celebration is taking place. September 15th, marks the Independence Day of Nicaragua, and instead of celebrating, the Nicaragua Diaspora of Los Angeles, also known as the Nicaraguan Community, have come together to Pershing Square on September 17th to protest and shine light on Daniel Ortega’s authoritarian dictatorship that has reigned over Nicaragua since 2007.  

Grettel Campbell is the president of Nicaragua Libre Los Angeles (NLLS), and the organizer of today's march and protest, Marcha Por Nicaragua, which translates to March for Nicaragua.  

“We are marching for Nicaragua because there is a regime in our country and we don't have any freedom. All the human rights are being violated by the dictator Ortega and we have more than 200 political prisoners in our country that are being tortured by the regime. We also have priests and catholic churches who are prisoners right now,” Campbell said. 

“This week is the Independence Day in Central America, but we don’t have nothing to celebrate because we don’t have independence over there.” 

Many of the marchers carried photo frames in remembrance of the political prisoners who are currently still imprisoned by the government. 

Half-Nicaraguan, Layla Hahka expressed that the political situation in Nicaragua is a very important topic to her and spreading awareness is necessary. 

"Spreading that awareness is really important to me and we come together in solidarity as a Nicaraguan American community to unite and spread that awareness,” said Hahka. 

Sept. 17, 2022. Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)

"We are the Nicaragua Diaspora. We live here in California but we are really worried about what is going on in our country. They can’t have marches and protests over there so we are doing it here," said Grettel Campbell (center), president of Nicaragua Libre Los Angeles and organizer of today's march. Sept. 17, 2022. Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)

Leonela Mendoza Gadea fled Nicaragua 3 weeks ago to avoid the dictatorship that placed youths, Lesther Aleman Alfaro and Samantha Jiron in prison. Sept. 17, 2022. Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)

Flor Ramirez stands before other fellow Nicaraguans at Pershing Square as they protest against the Nicaraguan government's dictatorship. Sept. 17, 2022. Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)

"I used to be a pro baseball player and he was a sports writer," says Alfonso Perez, as he holds a picture of journalist Miguel Mendoza. Mendoza has been captured by the Nicaraguan government since June 21, 2021. Downtown Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)

The Nicaragua Diaspora getting ready to march down S Olive Street during the Marcha Pour Nicaragua. Sept. 17, 2022. Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)

Flor Ramirez shouts for her nation's freedom at the Marcha Pour Nicaragua on Sept. 17, 2022. Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)

Due to the dictatoship in Nicaragua, Flor Ramirez was forced to leave her home country and move to the United States 6 months ago. "I feel sad, because that's my country, but it was necessary because my life was in danger." Today, on Sept. 17, 2022, Ramirez protests for her people at the Marcha Por Nicaragua in Downtown Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)

Hand in hand, Layla Hahka and her partner read about Fanor Lejandro Ramos, a political Nicaraguan prisoner who was captured and tortured by the Nicaraguan government. Sept. 17, 2022. Los Angeles, CA. (Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair)

For dancer and zumba instructor, Gabby Nicaragua, she changed her last name in honor of her home country when she was 20 and has stuck with it for 15 years. 

“I was born out there and I came out here since I was 6 years old. There are not a lot of Nicaraguans out here, they’re mainly in New York and Miami. I’m a zumba instructor and a dancer so wherever I go they gotta know that I’m not just Gabby,” said Gabby Nicaragua.

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