Barrio Athletics moves 5K event from Leimert Park following community dispute

Barrio Athletics, a Latino running club, has relocated its Sunday 5K event from Leimert Park in the Crenshaw neighborhood to Elysian Park near Dodger Stadium following intense community opposition.

Local residents initially objected to the event, citing concerns that the run would disrupt a longstanding Sunday marketplace used by Black vendors. The dispute escalated into broader tensions regarding gentrification and displacement. Some community members characterized the event as a potential “hostile takeover” and expressed fears that the club was using the run to “scope out” the neighborhood.

While Barrio Athletics attempted to compromise by adjusting its starting point to avoid the marketplace, the group ultimately decided to move the event entirely to “respect Leimert Park and the surrounding community.” Najee Ali, director of Project Islamic Hope, has called on Mayor Karen Bass to intervene in the matter, describing Leimert Park as the “heart and soul of Black Los Angeles.”