Silver Platter Bar Faces Demolition Threat Amid Efforts to Preserve Latino Heritage Sites

The Silver Platter bar has long served as a welcoming space for Latino and LGBTQ patrons in Los Angeles, but it now faces the serious threat of demolition as the location is set for redevelopment. Margarita Xatruch, the bar's owner, emphasized its historical importance, noting that it has been a vibrant location since its establishment in the 1920s and has been specifically operating as a bar since 1963. Recognized in a documentary, the establishment is cherished for its cultural contributions, and Xatruch hopes to preserve the Latin legacy linked to it.

This bar is part of a broader initiative led by Latinos in Heritage Conservation, which has compiled a list of 13 significant Hispanic heritage sites worthy of protection due to their potential disappearance. These sites range from historical cemeteries in Texas that served segregated Mexican American communities to neighborhoods like Barrio Chihuahita in Tucson, which dates back to 1848. The list also features important artistic landmarks such as the Our Lady of Guadalupe Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Mural in Chicago and murals by Latino artists in San Francisco.

Sehila Mota Casper, the director of Latinos in Heritage Conservation, expressed the organization's desire to proactively ensure the preservation of these culturally significant sites and promote their narratives. She highlighted the ongoing threats posed by gentrification and climate change, which could impact these landmarks. The initiative aims to inspire public policymakers, especially given recent successes in preserving sites important to Black and Asian American histories, and hopes the Silver Platter can reopen at another location if it cannot be saved.

Martha Vásquez, Xatruch’s daughter, echoed the stress stemming from the uncertainty surrounding their establishment's future, emphasizing the economic and political instability they face. Latinos in Heritage Conservation aims to raise awareness about the need to recognize and protect areas of Latino history, as data shows less than 1% of sites on the National Park Service’s National Register relate to Latino contributions.

Mota Casper pointed out that the narrative surrounding American history often overlooks significant contributions from Latino communities, particularly in areas that were once part of Mexico. She argues for the same levels of protection applied to historic plantation homes to be extended to sites significant to Latino culture. The initiative's release of this list comes at a time of regression in the recognition of Latino contributions to history, as is evident from recent political changes, such as the renaming of Fort Cavazos back to Fort Hood. They have garnered support from local and federal leaders advocating for more recognition of Latino heritage in national records.