Detroit's Cinco de Mayo festivities have sparked controversy following actions taken by the Detroit Police Department that led some community members and a city council member to raise concerns about possible racism and over-aggressive policing. At the heart of the tensions is the abrupt halt of Fiesta Detroit, a cultural event in Southwest Detroit celebrating Mexican heritage, which was interrupted by police citing safety due to overcrowding.

As reported by FOX 2 Detroit, Michael Reyes, co-director of We Are Culture Creators, expressed dismay at the police intervention, describing the scene as akin to a "military state." "It was scary," said Reyes. Adding to the chaos, Xavier Cuevas of We Are Culture Creators told the same source how he was walking and texting friends when unexpectedly "grabbed and handcuffed."

Addressing the incident, Detroit Police Chief James White countered claims that the department "shut Cinco de Mayo." Instead, White stated at a press conference that the department "paused" certain businesses because of severe overcrowding concerns. "We did not shut down Cinco de Mayo," White said, as conveyed by a release from the department provided to CBS News Detroit. "Thousands of people attended and enjoyed the event. There were a number of instances where overcrowding was a safety issue."

However, Detroit City Councilmember Mary Waters is pressing for answers, questioning the police's "inability" to manage the Cinco de Mayo crowds compared to other large events like the NFL Draft. Waters believes this may reflect a "racist xenophobic double standard," a sentiment she is looking to have addressed by Chief White directly before the city council. The disparity in crowd control measures between events, according to a statement Waters provided to WWJ Newsradio, is a significant concern — especially given that the draft event saw "275,000 attendees daily," without the same degree of police intervention.

Despite these reassurances, community activists like Ofeliza MuÑeca Torres Saenz took to social media to voice their frustrations. In a video reported by the Detroit Free Press, Torres Saenz accused the police of shutting down the festivities, causing harm to the community's businesses and morale, questioning, "So much that you care about Southwest that you shut f***ing everything down?" In defense, Chief White upheld the department's measures as prioritizing safety, indicating allegations of racism are "improper, unwarranted," during Monday's conference.

The tension underscores an ongoing dialogue around policing and cultural events, particularly when it concerns minority communities. With the next Detroit City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, the issue is poised to remain at the forefront of local civic discourse.