Aztec dancers protest

A young costumed member of the Aztec dance group beats a drum during a May Day march downtown. The group is often seen at L.A. street protests.   (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

No one ignores the dancing Aztecs. Crowds press close, pulling out iPhones and cameras.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Aztec dancers have shown up to support gay rights and oppose police brutality. They’ve been invited to protests by African American groups and Asian ones, including the Korean Immigrant Worker Assn. They’ve protested Christopher Columbus.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

“Aztec dancers at a protest for any leftist cause in Southern California are as ubiquitous as ‘si se puede’ chants and posters of Emiliano Zapata and Che Guevara,” says Gustavo Arellano, editor of the OC Weekly and author of the syndicated “Ask a Mexican!” column.   (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

The Danza Mexica Cuauhtemoc dancers march through LAX as part of a protest last fall in support of airport workers.  (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Cuauhtemoc Aztec dancers march through LAX in support of airport workers last fall.  (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Skycaps Titus Pana, center left, and Alfonzo Doty watch as the Aztec dancers march through LAX on the day before Thanksgiving.   (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

Holiday travelers Megan Kao and Courtney Poole, from left, watch as Cuauhtemoc Aztec dancers march through LAX to support workers last fall.  (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)