By 9 a.m. Monday, waves of Dodgers fans were already streaming west through Boyle Heights toward downtown LA to catch a glimpse of their favorite players at the World Series championship parade scheduled for later that day.
Some walked to the Mariachi Plaza Metro station draped in jerseys, custom jackets and Dodger blue banners — others tugged on wagons with toddlers in tiny blue T-shirts.
Traffic along 1st Street sporadically slowed to a crawl, at times stretching for blocks as cars waving flags circled for parking or made their way west.
Among the crowd was Sid Rea, who made his way toward the Metro with a group of friends. The parade would be Rea’s second, but first with a group. He even threw a few beers in his backpack to share.
“It means a lot to me because growing up, it was like a pastime of spending time with my dad, watching the games and my dad sharing the stories of Fernando [Valenzuela] and stuff like that,” Rea said. The owner of a coffee shop in El Sereno decided to close for the day so he could enjoy the festivities.
But beneath the buzz of anticipation, Rea couldn’t shake a sour note: the team’s leadership had failed to take a stronger stance during the immigration raids that shook swaths of its fanbase across Los Angeles, including around the Eastside.
In June, the team pledged a $1 million contribution to support families of immigrants, but their statement did not acknowledge the raids. That wasn’t enough for many fans who also criticized the team for visiting President Trump at the White House in the spring.
“I’m not supporting the actual organization anymore,” Rea said. “If I’m going to go watch it, I’m going to go watch it at a local bar or something like that instead of actually going to buy tickets.”
Nearby, another local business owner made headlines for his decision to paint over a Dodgers mural in protest of what he called the team’s disservice to its fans during the raids.
“I feel the need to show support for the team, for the players, the people that give me these memories and special moments, not the owner of the organization itself,” said Uriel Bañuelos, a friend of Rea’s.
Bañuelos, who grew up without the means to attend Dodgers games, said even now, with more financial stability, he didn’t feel right spending money on tickets.
Still, for others in Boyle Heights, the parade was a chance for unity amid months of tension.
Boyle Heights resident Luz Benitez saw firsthand the divisions sowing in her community, but said the championship offered the entire LA community a chance to heal.
“With the Dodgers winning, it does make it feel like the community is being brought together,” Benitez said. “We’re all going for the Dodgers, no matter who you are or where you’re coming from. It’s a nice feeling.”
Another Boyle Heights resident, Lisette Chaparro, 29, hoped to see the players and droves of fans celebrating the team’s win. She and her friend Kiki Amagna, 39, planned to join hundreds of other fans on the Metro headed to the parade.
“I’ve grown up watching the Dodgers with my dad and grandpa. I’ve never been to a parade before and had to miss last year’s so the fact that it’s back-to-back means a lot,” Chaparro said.
Despite being a Yankee’s fan, Amagna said she loved the camaraderie and sense of pride the event inspired. Both women agreed that sports and politics shouldn’t mix.
“I have a lot of friends who are upset with [the Dodgers] but sports is an escape for us. It’s not political and not meant to be political,” Amagna said.
Chaparro agreed. “With everything going on in the world, we have one day to all come together and be excited about something.”
Walking into the Metro station at Mariachi Plaza, Israel Amaro flaunted a Dodger Blue letterman-style jacket decorated with patches from past World Series championships.
Originally from Boyle Heights, the Montebello resident felt torn about his support. He said his fandom was very much tied to his family’s story.
“When [my mom] first came as an immigrant, the first place they brought her was to a Dodger game in ‘81 to see Valenzuela,” he said. “For me, it’s honoring that.”
Even as he acknowledged the team’s complicated history from the displacement of Chavez Ravine to current ownership controversies, Amaro said the day was about celebrating the athletes that represent his favorite baseball team.
“I’m here to support the team and I know there’s some middle ground and hopefully we can find it,” he said. “But today is for the love of the game.”