On Sunday, the Morena governor of Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha Moya, announced that the Grito de Independencia (Cry of Independence) will be limited solely to a civic event, suspending the celebration in the capital, Culiacán.
As in Culiacán, where violence has hit hard in the region, in other municipalities across Mexico, state and/or municipal authorities have preferred to suspend all celebrations and limit themselves to civic events.
Apart from Culiacán, the municipalities of San Ignacio and Navolato also canceled the traditional Grito celebration and announced that there will only be a ceremony.
Michoacán
In Michoacán, at least four municipalities have suspended their Independence Day celebrations due to reported insecurity. These are Zinapécuaro, Uruapan, Peribán, and Tocumbo, which have recently experienced acts of violence.
In Zinapécuaro, armed individuals set fire to vehicles and blocked roads; In Uruapan, an armed attack left one police officer dead and a state of emergency declared; in Peribán and Tocumbo, there were roadblocks following the disappearance of three people from San José Apupátaro, according to Azteca Noticias.
Veracruz
Journalist Azucena Uresti reported that the city councils of Cerro Azul and Coxquihui in Veracruz have suspended parades, civic events, and the cultural event scheduled for today, Monday, September 15, and that there will only be an official protocol within the City Hall, prioritizing the safety and well-being of the population.
It is worth remembering that last July, retired teacher Irma Hernández Cruz was deprived of her liberty, tortured, and murdered by an alleged criminal organization in order to extort money from the taxi drivers’ union, where she worked.
Although Coahuitlán and Zozocolco de Hidalgo joined Cerro Azul and Coxquihui, the latter cited that the decision was due to recent events in the region in order to safeguard the physical and emotional integrity of children and adults attending the Grito celebration at all times.
Edomex
Another example was the suspension of celebrations in the municipality of Xalatlaco, in the State of Mexico, where 40 days of mourning were declared after a tragic shooting at a street market, with the government opting for support, empathy, and respect for the mourning process.
Iztapalapa expresses solidarity with the tragedy
Another municipality that suspended the Grito celebrations, albeit for reasons other than safety, was Iztapalapa. Mayor Aleida Alavez stated that out of respect and solidarity with the victims and families of the accident at the Puente de la Concordia, it was decided that the ceremony would be a civic one, rather than a street party as planned.
“This year, we will not celebrate as usual. The situation we are experiencing requires us to be more focused on supporting the families affected by this tragedy,” commented Alavez.
The ceremony will be austere and solemn on the city hall esplanade, to which the public was invited.
As of Monday morning, the 15th, three municipalities in Sinaloa, four in Veracruz, four in Michoacán, and one in the State of Mexico had suspended the Grito celebrations for safety reasons, while Iztapalapa did so in solidarity with the victims of the tragedy.
Source: elsiglodetorreon
