A Defiant Melody: Spanish National Anthem Echoes Through Dodger Stadium
The familiar pre-game ritual at Dodger Stadium took an unexpected turn Saturday night, transforming into a powerful statement of cultural solidarity. Singer Vanessa Hernández — known to fans as Nezza — chose to perform “El Pendón Estrellado” instead of the expected English version of the national anthem, sending ripples through the packed stadium and beyond.
The timing couldn’t have been more poignant. Just hours earlier, the streets of Los Angeles had swelled with some 30,000 protesters gathering for the “No Kings” demonstration — a direct response to the administration’s hardline immigration policies. Against this charged backdrop, Nezza’s musical choice rang out like a bell of defiance.
“Para mi gente,” she later explained in a raw, emotional TikTok post. For my people.
What makes this moment particularly fascinating is the rich history behind “El Pendón Estrellado” itself. Back in 1945, FDR commissioned Peruvian immigrant Clotilde Arias — a talented journalist and musician — to create this Spanish version of the anthem. The composition nearly vanished into obscurity until 2006, when Arias’ grandson stumbled upon it in an old storage box. Talk about buried treasure.
The Dodgers organization has maintained a conspicuous silence about the performance — perhaps unsurprising given the current political climate. But Puerto Rican baseball star Kiké Hernández didn’t hold back, taking to Instagram with passionate words: “I cannot stand to see our community being violated, profiled, abused and ripped apart. ALL people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and human rights.”
Colombian superstar Shakira recently touched on similar themes during a BBC interview. “It means living in constant fear,” she observed, addressing the immigrant experience in America. “And it’s painful to see.”
The stakes feel particularly high right now. With 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 Marines deployed across the state, tensions continue to mount. Yet somehow, Nezza’s act of musical resistance — performed while proudly wearing a Dominican Republic shirt — hasn’t resulted in the expected backlash. No stadium ban. No ejection. Just conversations. Important ones.
In Los Angeles especially — a city where Latino culture beats at the very heart of daily life — this moment resonates deeply. It’s more than just another rendition of the national anthem. It’s a reminder of America’s rich multicultural tapestry, and the ongoing struggle to ensure every thread receives its due recognition.
Sometimes the most powerful statements come wrapped in melody. This was one of those times.