El Grito

Hundreds of people gathered at the south steps of the Texas Capitol on Sept. 15 to celebrate Mexico’s independence from Spain.

Written by Carissa Georgelos | September 2019

On Sept. 16, 1810,  Miguel Hidalgo, a leader in the Mexican War of Independence, made a speech to inspire the people of Mexico to revolt against Spain. His speech became known as the Mexican Cry for Independence as it launched a revolt against Spain and ultimately set Mexico free from Spanish rule. Since 2013, residents have celebrated Mexican Independence Day at the Texas Capitol on the anniversary of the eve of Hidalgo's famous cry.

 El Grito de la Independencia is about freedom and remembering the roots of the Mexican culture, event attendees said.

 “We are one humankind and we are one people, but we differentiate in our roots,” independent immigration psychologist Marialy González, 63, said. “[That] doesn't mean we are separate.We are still the same humankind just with different roots.”.

 Regina Rodriguez, 38, a news anchor for Univision 62 in Austin, helped broadcast the event. Univision 62 was one of the organizations that hosted the celebration.

 “I think the main purpose of the event is to engage not only the Latino community or the Mexican community, but also the Texan community in general,” Rodriguez said.

 Univision 62 Austin promoted the event on TV, social media and radio. Over the past six years,  attendance has grown, and Rodriguez said everyone is welcomed.

 “It is very important for the Mexican community to have this celebration here at this historic building, the Capitol, to be able to gather here with their kids and see the traditions and be at a building that has so much history,” Rodriguez said.

 The celebration included many traditional performances, such as baile folklorico and mariachi music. Belinda Lopez, 38, performed a traditional dance wearing an elaborate blue traditional dress she said reminded her of the beauty of Mexican culture. Her 10-year-old son, Daniel Reyna Lopez, who is a dancer at Ballet Folklorico de Austin, performed with her. Both are singers, dancers and musicians who perform around the world.

 “Mexico is never out of me,” Lopez said. “I am a Mexican, and I am so proud.”

 At the Capitol celebration, the smell of roasted corn and tacos filled the air. Vendors crowded the streets shouting “¡Paletas!,” “¡Mangonadas!,” “¡Agua!” and “¡Banderas!”

 A popsicle vendor, Arturo Bertadillo, 55, wore a large sombrero that cast a shadow over his bearded face. The paletero, or popsicle seller, said the event allows him to feel like he is back in his home country. 

 “We can interact with people and get rid of that hate that is in every human being,” Bertadillo

said in Spanish. “We should erase that and add more love to life because we can have everything if we treat each other well and not poorly.”

 Another vendor, Belia Lopez, 48, is a housewife and comes every year to El Grito to sell Mexican flags. “We can meet a lot of people and lots of vendors,”  Lopez said.

 Lopez hopes El Grito will educate kids about Mexico’s freedom and they will carry on the tradition.

Libna Lopez, 43, who works for Austin Independent School District, has attended El Grito with her family for the past two years. She agrees that more people should be aware of the celebration.

 “Most people think Cinco de Mayo is (Mexico’s) Independence Day, and a lot of people get it wrong,” Libna said. “[El Grito] is a part of world history that we should be aware of...I hope it will remind the Hispanic people that they are united and that we come to this country to better our lives, not to forget where we come from.”