Get ready to celebrate Cinco de Mayo at restaurants all over Flint. Some will offer drink specials, others discounted tacos. Get there early. All expect to be bustling with business May 5.

“This is an American celebration, even though its roots are in Mexico, a day of dancing music and good food,” says Aurora Sauceda, head of Latinos United for Flint. “It’s also a day to remember that Mexican immigrants have been treated unfairly by the government and our resources are stretched in many ways.”

Cinco de Mayo is a victory celebration of the Mexicans over the French occupying army at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). The French army was much larger and had more weapons but the Mexicans won the day. It was a great symbolic victory for the Mexican government and bolstered the resistance movement.

Latinos United for Flint will have a teach-in from noon to 3 p.m. at the Hispanic Technology & Community Center of Greater Flint, 2101 Lewis St. The teach-in will include a seminar about the trauma related to lead consumption during the water crisis, demonstrations about how to buy and cook healthy food that mitigates lead absorption. There will also be exercise classes and vendor booths.

Sauceda and other activists stress Cinco de Mayo as a time to reflect on issues facing Latinos, like deportation. If the family’s breadwinner is deported, Sauceda says, the family might face a big burden, paying for rent, food and medical bills.

Meanwhile, if some other residents who aren’t deported are undocumented and suffering from lead poisoning, they might be afraid to seek care for fear of being deported.

Latinos United for Flint works with Our Lady of Guadalupe and other community resources to find ways to serve the population.

“While it is easy to get caught up in the celebration, it is also a time to learn more about issues,” Sauceda says.

In addition, Don Pancho and Laredo’s Mexican Restaurant will provide free food from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Hispanic Technology & Community Center of Greater Flint.

Meanwhile, others looking to enjoy Cinco de Mayo festivities throughout the community might explore the following locations that will offer meals, music and merriment:

• Casa Real, 4150 Miller Road, Flint, (810) 720-2921
• El Cozumel, G-4190 E. Court St., Burton (810) 715-4426
• El Especial Mexican, 4513 W. Pasadena, Ave. Flint (810) 230-7060
• La Familia Restaurant, 725 Garland St., Flint (810) 341-6888
• La Azteca Taco House, 1902 W. Court St., Flint (810) 233 3104
• Los Panchos, 4001 Fenton Rd. Flint (810) 234-8226
• Lupe’s, 1112 S. Elms Rd., Flint (810) 635-9800
• Soriano’s Mexican Kitchen, 836 S. Saginaw St., Flint (810) 339-6975
• Tia Helita’s, G4070 S. Saginaw St., Burton (810) 742-5525

If you want to extend your celebration, El Cozueml is going to have live Marachi music on May 13.

  Casa Real, Cinco de Mayo in Flint, El Cozumel, El Especial Mexican, Hispanic Our Lady of Guadalupe Technology & Community Center of Greater Flint, La Azteca Taco House, La Familia Restaurant, Latinos United for Flint, Los Panchos, Lupe’s, Soriano’s Mexican Kitchen, Tia Helita’s

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