**Día De Los Muertos Altar at Venice Bakery Honors Lives Lost in ICE Custody**
*VENICE, LOS ANGELES (KABC)* — This Día De Los Muertos, a beloved neighborhood bakery in Venice is sharing a colorful altar with the community — one that carries a powerful message amid ongoing immigration enforcement.
When you walk into Venice Bakery, the traditional Día De Los Muertos altar, or “el altar,” is already on display. This holiday is a day of remembrance for those who have passed, a time to mourn their loss while still including them in our lives.
This year, the bakery’s altar features a number of photos of men and women from across the Southwest who died in ICE custody. Norma Aceves, the owner of Venice Bakery and creator of the altar, explained her motivation.
“I see myself, and my family, and my community in them, and it’s just unfair that they had to die in those circumstances,” Aceves said.
Customers learning that several photos depict people who died while detained by ICE have had strong reactions.
“They lost their lives seeking the American dream, seeking to build their generational wealth, to change the lives of their future generations. I’m a daughter of immigrants, and my parents came here illegally,” said customer Mireya Arias-Kim.
“This is a bakery, a neighborhood bakery, and she’s taken the time to honor all of these lives. I think it brings awareness, and it honors the lives of all these people, so I think it’s very special,” added Rocio Naranjo.
Aceves has been putting up a Día De Los Muertos altar in her Venice neighborhood bakery for 10 years. This year’s altar holds especially strong meaning for her, her family, and her customers.
“It’s remembering that our culture has purpose, our traditions have purpose,” Aceves said. “When we do something, when we put up an altar, it’s not just to look cute or nice for a season or for a day. It’s to honor and remember the people that have passed away. It’s to remember the struggles that we come from and how powerful we are.”
https://abc7.com/post/venice-bakery-honors-died-ice-custody-dia-de-los-muertos-altar/18093976/