Eva Longoria
, J Balvin , Los Tigres del Norte , Maluma , Kate del Castillo , Alejandro Sanz , and many other Latino artists will participate in the Altísimo Live! Music and Pop Culture Festival , an online event that will raise funds for agricultural workers in the U.S. who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic .
will take place on May 5 and its goal is to raise USD $3 million for agricultural workers in the U.S., the majority of which are Latinos. The funds will be channeled through the Farmworkers COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund.
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Through a statement, the organizers added on Wednesday that this online festival that will be hosted by Eva Longoria will also have the presence of other artists like Rosario Dawson , Anitta, Banda Recodo , Becky G , Carlos Vives , CNCO , Edward James Olmos , Fonseca , Farruko , Gente de Zona , Gloria & Emilio Estefan , Jesse & Joy , Juanes , and Lila Downs .
They said that the initiative was inspired by the 1985 Live Aid concert that raised funds internationally for victims of famine in Africa.
Other artists that will partake in the event are Luis Fonsi , Maluma , Nicky Jam , Sech , Stephanie Sigman , Steve Aoki , and Wisin & Yandel, among many others.
“Altísimo Live! represents a breaking point , a desperately needed moment of inspiration , and the total unity for the Latinx community that we think will collaborate with contributions for the farmworkers and that will leave a lasting legacy,” said Manny Ruiz , co-founder of this festival.
Most workers who will benefit from the fund, created by Justice for Migrant Women and Hispanics in Philanthropy , are from Latin America and are illegally in the United States, the main reason why they cannot receive any government support.
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“Farmworkers are considered essential during this health crisis , however, they have been constantly denied essential benefits and rights throughout history and so it is amid this devastating virus,” stressed Mónica Ramírez , co-founder of The Latinx House , one of the several organizations involved in the festival.
The virtual festival will be available for free online but the artists will urge the viewers to donate at least USD $5 .
“As Latinos say, ‘a grain of salt can make the difference.’ And in this case, five dollars on Cinco de Mayo can do a lot,” said Enrique Santos, president of iHeartLatino .
The date is especially meaningful since Cinco de Mayo is the only day the U.S. celebrates a Latin American festivity. Although the date originally commemorates the victory of the Mexican army over the French army, Americans have turned it into a homage for Latinx culture in general.
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