News Briefs
By Daily Bruin Staff
April 8, 2004 9:00 p.m.
Group calls for Cinco de Mayo beer boycott
Activists want Chicanos to boycott Budweiser beer during this
year’s Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
Albert Melena of the group May 5 With Pride said Anheuser-Busch
dishonors Hispanic culture by using Cinco de Mayo to promote
alcohol consumption.
“˜”˜With their publicity, they want to make us look
like drunkards and use the celebration of our Mexican fiesta as a
day for getting drunk,” said Melena, who demonstrated
Tuesday with a group of supporters in Los Angeles’ historic
Olvera Plaza.
The activists are asking the company to stop using the festival
in its publicity campaign.
Anheuser-Busch said that it only sells to adults 21 years and
older and does not target specific ethnicities.
“Our ads and promotional material reflect the diversity of
communities that live in this country,” the statement said.
“To suggest that people of a specific racial group should be
protected from certain types of publicity is elitist and
condescending and an insult.”
Renovations prevent Easter service at Bowl
There won’t be an Easter sunrise service at the Hollywood
Bowl this year.
The $25 million renovation of the Hollywood Bowl means the
traditional observance will skip a year.
Volunteers will line up in the bowl parking lot at 5:30 a.m. to
redirect worshippers.
“It’s going to be very traumatic for people who
don’t know about the cancellation and who show up Sunday
morning,” said Norma Foster, president of the nonprofit
organization that has produced the event for nearly 60 years.
“˜”˜We will make sure to wish them happy Easter before
we turn them around,” she said.
The free nondenominational service celebrating the resurrection
of Christ includes choirs, sermons, the singing of
“˜”˜Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and the
grand finale, a release of doves.
Reports from Bruin wire services.
