Dodger Stadium singer performs national anthem in Spanish to protest ICE raids

Dodger Stadium saw an emotional moment last Saturday. It wasn’t about baseball. It was about protest, identity, and taking a stand. The spotlight was on singer Vanessa Hernández, known to fans as Nezza. She stepped onto the field and made a powerful statement. Instead of singing the national anthem in English, she chose to sing “El Pendón Estrellado,” the official Spanish version of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

This version wasn’t random. It holds history. It was officially commissioned by the U.S. government in 1945 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Yet, Nezza was told by Dodgers staff not to sing it.

Told no, but still chose to sing for her people

In a TikTok video posted by Nezza, an employee can be heard saying, “We are going to do the song in English today.” Nezza’s caption read, “Watch the Dodgers tell me I can’t sing the Spanish Star Spangled Banner that Roosevelt literally commissioned in 1945 — so I did it anyway.” And she did.

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Nezza wore a shirt showing pride in her roots. It had the colors and flag of the Dominican Republic. As she sang, her voice cracked with emotion. She paused before the final line. The moment was raw and real.

Singing as a form of protest

Later, Nezza explained the reason behind her choice. It wasn’t just about the language. It was a protest. She sang for her people. For the Latino community. For the families affected by the ongoing ICE raids across Los Angeles.

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She said, “I didn’t think I would be met with any sort of ‘No,’ especially because we’re in L.A. with everything happening.” She shared that she had performed the anthem many times before. But this time felt different. “I just could not believe, when she walked in and told me ‘No,’ but I just felt like I needed to do it, para mi gente.”

Her message was personal. She talked about her immigrant parents. They’re documented now, but she couldn’t help imagining a different scenario. One where they could be taken away. “Even at this age, let alone a little kid. Like, what are we doing?” she asked with tears in her eyes.

What happened after the performance?

After her performance, Nezza joked, “Safe to say I’m never allowed in that stadium ever again.” But according to reports, including one by The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, that’s not the case. She wasn’t punished. She wasn’t banned. The team chose not to comment on the matter.

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ICE raids spark protests across Los Angeles

Meanwhile, the raids by ICE have continued since June 6. This has led to protests all over Los Angeles. Political tensions have exploded. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have both spoken out against ICE’s actions. They’ve asked the federal agency to stop.

Things took a bigger turn when President Donald Trump brought in the California National Guard. He also deployed hundreds of Marines. That move raised many eyebrows. A federal judge has already ruled that the President’s action was illegal. But the order has been paused for now, pending an appeal.

Trump has dialed back some actions. He told officers to stop arresting workers in farms, restaurants, and hotels. Still, the arrests haven’t stopped everywhere.

How Los Angeles sports teams have reacted

In the middle of all this, most Los Angeles sports teams have stayed quiet. But there are some exceptions. LAFC, a Major League Soccer team, released a statement supporting the community. They talked about standing with people in times of fear and uncertainty.

Angel City FC, a team from the National Women’s Soccer League, went a step further. Their players wore shirts with the message: “Immigrant City Football Club.” It was clear and bold.

From the Dodgers, no official team statement has been released. But a few individuals have spoken out. Kiké Hernández, a veteran Dodgers player, expressed his pain on Instagram. He said, “I cannot stand to see our community being violated, profiled, abused and ripped apart.”

Adrián González, former Dodgers player and now a broadcaster, also shared his thoughts. He called the raids “unconstitutional” and “illegal.” He asked the government to stop tearing families apart.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who has previously spoken about social justice, seemed unaware of the current situation. He said he didn’t know enough to comment. “It’s certainly unsettling,” he admitted, but added that he couldn’t speak intelligently on the matter.

A moment that turned into a movement

That’s where voices like Nezza’s step in. Through music and bold choices, she brought the conversation into a very public space. She turned a baseball game into a platform for protest. And she reminded everyone that sometimes, singing a song is more than just a tradition. It’s an act of resistance.