Drug Cartel violence silences “El Grito de la independencia” in Juárez, Mexico

"Mexicanos! Viva los héroes que nos dieron Patria! Viva Hidalgo! Viva Morelos! Viva Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez! Viva Allende! Viva Aldama y Matamoros! Viva la Independencia Nacional! Viva Mexico! Viva Mexico! Viva Mexico!”

Once a year on the evening of Sept. 15, Mexico’s president marches with the nation’s flag onto the National Palace balcony, overlooks Zocalo square in Mexico City, ceremoniously rings Hidalgo’s bell and chants the above “el grito de la independencia” to thousands of celebrating Mexican citizens below.

The “el grito de la independencia” is the literally the “cry” and bell tolling for independence first yelled by Catholic Priest, Father Miguel Hidalgo, as a call to arms in response to the impending Spanish Army invasion 200 years ago.  Father Hidalgo’s battle cry convinced the people to fight against Spain and after 10 years of war lead to Mexico’s independence from 300 years of brutal Spanish rule.

This year, the same “el grito” celebrating the bicentennial of Mexico’s independence and the centennial of Mexico’s revolution was recited by mayors, governors, and dignitaries in cities throughout Mexico and the United States.

With the exception of Juárez, Mexico, where the drug cartel’s escalating violence unfortunately forced the mayor to cancel most of “el grito de la independencia” celebrations for the first time since the revolution.

For the safety of the Juárez citizens, Mayor José Reyes Ferriz urged that residents remain at home or travel to El Paso for the celebrations.  Mayor Ferriz conducted a formal “el grito” celebration to a solemn, empty and heavily guarded city center for local broadcast.

The increasing turf war violence between rival Juárez drug cartels and the declared war on drug trafficking by the Mexican government has resulted in nearly 30,000 drug-war-related deaths since 2007.  President Felipe Calderon has dispatched almost 50,000 federal troops and police to nearly 18 states in Mexico to quell the cartel violence.

With no real end in sight, the war on drugs promises to be another long and bloody battle for Mexico’s history.

Traditional dancers celebrate "el grito" in Sacramento



As Juárez citizens watch the festivities from the meager safety of their homes, Mexico City spent a rumored $40 million on “el grito” festivities including air acrobatics, parades, music, dancers, and a spectacular fireworks display for the hundred of thousands of spectators.

Just across the US border from Juárez, in El Paso, Texas, thousands gathered among a sea of red, white and green flags to celebrate with music, food, traditional dancing, and cheers of Viva Mexico!

In Sacramento thousands of cheering Mexicans and Mexican-American citizens celebrated at the state capitol with traditional dance, music, food, and listened to “el grito” recited by Mexican Consul General Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez to while mariachi bands played Mexico’s and the United States’ national anthems. 

With Juárez's ominously silent "el grito" celebration as a constant reminder of the current and past struggles of Mexico's history, officials stress the importance of maintaining the concentrated effort to win the war on drugs.