ASSOCIATED WITH THAT FACILITY. A BIG CULTURAL EVENT ON THE EVE OF MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY AT THE CAPITOL IS NOW GETTING SCALED DOWN. ORGANIZERS BLAME THE POLITICAL CLIMATE. THE MEXICAN CULTURAL CENTER OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PUTS ON EL GRITO. IT’S SET FOR SEPTEMBER 15TH. THIS IS NORMALLY A CEREMONY AND A BIG FESTIVAL IN THE WEST STEPS OF THE STATE CAPITOL, BUT ORGANIZERS ARE NOW CANCELING THE FESTIVAL PORTION, SAYING OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE COMMUNITY CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY AND THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE, AN EVENT LATER THIS MONTH IN THE YOLO COUNTY COMMUNITY OF WINTERS IS ALSO POSTPONED FOR THE SAME REASON. ORGANIZERS OF THE CARNITAS FESTIVAL SAY THE COMMUNITY FEELS UN
Sacramento El Grito event, celebrating Mexican independence, makes changes due to political climate
The El Grito celebration at the California State Capitol will look very different this year, as organizers announce changes to protect the community. The Mexican Cultural Center of Northern California announced the major changes on Thursday, saying there would only be a civic ceremony and no festival this year. The center said the changes were “due to the current political climate and concerns for the safety of our community.”“Our mission remains strong: to celebrate and uplift Mexican culture, heritage, and history,” said Marco Rodriguez, president of MCCNC, in a news release. “While we will not host the larger festival this year, we invite the community to join us for the civic ceremony and to honor El Grito with family and community in meaningful ways.”El Grito de Independencia, the Independence Cry, also known as the Cry of Dolores, is a long-standing tradition entwined with Mexican Independence. It is historically connected to Sept. 16, 1810, when Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla alerted the town of Dolores of the incoming Spanish authorities by ringing the church bell and sparking a call to action and rebellion. It’s recognized as the catalyst for the Mexican War of Independence. El Grito is commemorated on Sept. 15, the eve of Mexican Independence Day, with a gathering and synchronized call and response. In Sacramento, El Grito is typically marked with a festival featuring live music, booths and vendors at the Capitol. It’s not the first event scaled down or canceled in the region due to the political climate. The Winters Carnitas Festival announced a postponement this year for the same reason. This year, the civic ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. on Sept. 15 on the West Balcony of the State Capitol. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
The El Grito celebration at the California State Capitol will look very different this year, as organizers announce changes to protect the community.
The Mexican Cultural Center of Northern California announced the major changes on Thursday, saying there would only be a civic ceremony and no festival this year.
The center said the changes were “due to the current political climate and concerns for the safety of our community.”
“Our mission remains strong: to celebrate and uplift Mexican culture, heritage, and history,” said Marco Rodriguez, president of MCCNC, in a news release. “While we will not host the larger festival this year, we invite the community to join us for the civic ceremony and to honor El Grito with family and community in meaningful ways.”
El Grito de Independencia, the Independence Cry, also known as the Cry of Dolores, is a long-standing tradition entwined with Mexican Independence. It is historically connected to Sept. 16, 1810, when Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla alerted the town of Dolores of the incoming Spanish authorities by ringing the church bell and sparking a call to action and rebellion. It’s recognized as the catalyst for the Mexican War of Independence.
El Grito is commemorated on Sept. 15, the eve of Mexican Independence Day, with a gathering and synchronized call and response.
In Sacramento, El Grito is typically marked with a festival featuring live music, booths and vendors at the Capitol.
It’s not the first event scaled down or canceled in the region due to the political climate. The Winters Carnitas Festival announced a postponement this year for the same reason.
This year, the civic ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. on Sept. 15 on the West Balcony of the State Capitol.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel