The Price of Unity: Why Leadership Demands Discipline Over Ego
By David Contreras Past National LULAC Historian
For nearly a century, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) has stood as a fortress for our community. That fortress was not built on the whims of individuals, but on the bedrock of disciplined, unified action. I know that when the "One" stops acting for the "All," the entire structure begins to crumble.
The Cinco de Mayo parade is more than a celebration; it is a living monument to District 8’s rich Latino culture and history. Deciding to cancel this year’s event was a choice that truly broke our hearts. However, we were forced to confront a grim reality: Houston now leads the nation in the arrest and deportation of non-criminal immigrants. To hold a massive public gathering in a city that has become ground zero for the tearing apart of families would have been a reckless endangerment of our people.
Our greatest concern was for the children. We could not in good conscience organize an event that might separate a child from their parent or expose vulnerable families to aggressive enforcement. In leadership, the hardest path—protecting our children and families over holding a party—is the most necessary one.
Adding to this tension was the baffling decision by those attempting to organize an unsanctioned parade to name the Mayor as the Grand Marshal. At a time when our community is being targeted more than any other in the country, it was a slap in the face for these organizers to suggest celebrating alongside a city administration that has not done enough to shield our families.
The aftermath of this decision has revealed a troubling fracture in our ranks. LULAC is guided by a sacred mandate: “Todos para uno y uno para todos”—All for one and one for all. When a difficult decision is reached by District leadership to prioritize safety over spectacle, it is the duty of every member—and especially every officer—to stand behind it. It is therefore profoundly disappointing to see an officer of a District 8 council choose personal optics over organizational protocol and community protection.
By organizing an unsanctioned event in open defiance of a formal cancellation, this officer did not show "community spirit." They showed a blatant disregard for the governance that keeps LULAC viable. If an officer finds they can no longer respect the collective decisions of District 8 leadership, then the honorable path is clear: they should respectfully resign their position and join a body that aligns with their personal goals.
This spirit of division has been further fueled by "brothers and sisters" on social media spreading the hollow claim that the parade was cancelled due to a lack of planning time for the State Convention. Let the record be clear: the convention was recently moved to San Antonio. To use misinformation to undermine the tireless work of District 8 volunteers is not just disrespectful—it is a betrayal of our brotherhood and a decisive blow to our organization.
History will remember those who stood together in difficult times to protect the vulnerable, not those who sought the spotlight at the expense of the organization’s stability. Our mission succeeds only when we act with a single pulse. It is time to return to the discipline that made us great. It is time to truly be "one for all."
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