Local indigenous teacher of Mexica culture and traditions Adalberto Zanes was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement last month and now his community is meeting in danzas to pray for justice.
On Sept. 13, the group performed seven ceremonial danzas over the course of two hours in the South Texas heat at Carroll Lane Park to pray and advocate for Zanes’ release.
Zanes is the leader of Kalpulli Ehekatl Papalotizin, which translates to Venerable Butterfly of the Wind, a dance group that performs traditional Mexica indigenous dances which are considered forms of prayer. Many of the group members have been advocating for his release, describing him as a humble leader and mentor with no prior criminal record.
Family friend and former danza group member Meagan Alvarado helped spread the word of Zanes’ detention online and coordinated communication for the event. Alvarado said the community is shocked that Zanes was detained
“He doesn’t have any prior record, he’s never gotten in trouble, and he doesn’t even drink, he doesn’t even smoke,” Alvarado said. “And yet this is the person we’re taking out of our community.”
“He’s just not here in the way that [ICE] wants him to be here. But he’s here. And he’s been an active part of the community. He pays his taxes and does everything, and yet we’re still punishing him. How is that right?”
“These are human beings, people mess up, and people make mistakes, but taking their life away that they have built is wrong. It is a human right to try to better themselves and do better,”
Zanes was detained in Corpus Christi Aug. 11 in the early morning on his commute to work and taken to the Port Isabel ICE detention center. During his Sept. 14 court hearing the judge ruled against deportation but denied Zanes bail. His next court hearing is set for Sept. 23.
Zanes has been a resident of Corpus Christi for 32 years. Kalpulli Ehekatl Papalotizin has been gathering letters of support from people around the nation, and has created a fundraiser to help Zanes with legal fees. So far they have reached $11,000 toward their $20,000 goal.
The danza drew local political figures in support of Zanes, including Del Mar professor Isabel Araiza, co-founder of For the Greater Good and City Council candidate, and Corpus Christi City Councilwoman Sylvia Campos.
Before the ceremony began, Zanes spoke to Alvarado over the phone and passed a message to the attendees: “Thank you. Thank you for being there. Thank you for doing this for me. Thank you for thinking of me and praying for me.”
“It makes him really happy to know that we’re together,” Alvarado said.
