Pop-up market in West Adams donates proceeds to support immigrant community affected by raids

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Local vendors came together Saturday to raise money in support of the immigrant community affected by recent federal immigration raids.

MidCity Mercado is a monthly family-operated pop-up in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles that brings together local businesses owned by people of color.

At this month's pop-up, MidCity Mercado Co-Founder Jasmine Maldonado said every vendor donated their proceeds to organizations advocating for immigrant rights.

The pop-up partnered with Kids of Immigrants and Rizos Curls for their "United for Immigrants" initiative, where over 150 brands donated 100% of online profits to immigrant rights organizations.

Maldonado says Saturday's pop-up raised funds for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) as well as "families that are directly affected by the current ICE raids."

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Vendors and artists at the pop-up said they were participating in the event to support their community.

"I'm here to use my skills as an artist to support my community during a really difficult time where we're all struggling to cope with the reality of immigration in our country," said artist AJ Paez.

Salvador De Leon, founder of Breathe by Sal and a vendor at the event, said this is a way to speak up for his city and his family.

"My family's been living in fear, and they don't want to be outside, and with everything that's going on, you never know what can happen," said De Leon. "I truly feel like being a voice for my family can help them."

In addition to immigrant rights organizations, MidCity Mercado is supporting local vendors who may fear being in public amid recent federal immigration raids.

"We also have supported a few of our undocumented friends by having their products here to be donated without them having to be present. We're excited to sell their products to raise funds to not only help them but help other immigrant families in need," said Maldonado.

Representatives from CHIRLA also attended the event, offering "know your rights" workshops throughout the day.

"As a community in L.A. ... it's home, and I feel like just being born and raised in Los Angeles, we're all standing up as a culture and definitely our voices are being heard," said De Leon.