Features
Cross-border Concert Raises Latino Politics
Musicians from Mexico, the U.S. and further afield took the stage for a concert next to a North American border fence, actively seeking to promote Latino political participation and counteract xenophobic rhetoric in light of the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
Photo: Allan Hess / Invision / AP
Fans flock to see the likes of Alejandro Sanz, Carlos Vives, and Los Tigres Del Norte perform at RiseUp As One next to the Cross Border Xpress in San Diego Oct 15. The concert dealt with the importance of voting and cross-border unity.
The RiseUp As One concert was staged Oct. 15 next to the Cross Border Xpress, which connects airport terminals in San Diego, Calif., and Tijuana, Mexico.
The show drew about 15,000 visitors and was livestreamed and broadcast by sponsors Univision and Fusion. The show featured performances from Miguel Bosé, Alejandro Sanz, Natalia Lafourcade, and Residente, and encouraged voters to take action and vote if they rejected the idea of constructing a wall separating Mexico and the U.S.
“On Nov. 8, you have a very important appointment, one in which you will decide whether you want progress and dignity or whether you want regression and chaos,” Bosé said during a performance, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. “This is your vote, and this is your voice.”
The concert was reportedly to happen on both sides of the border, but logistics proved too challenging within the timeframe.