Mexico City, Mexico — President Claudia Sheinbaum became the first woman to lead Mexico’s Grito de Independencia ceremony. Celebrations of the country’s 215th anniversary of the Cry of Independence began Monday night.
Before approximately 280,000 people in Mexico City’s Zócalo square, President Sheinbaum waved the national flag from the main balcony of the National Palace. For the first time in history, she received the flag from female military personnel belonging to the Heroic Military College.
Likewise, President Sheinbaum revived a tradition inaugurated by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador by mounting an Honor Guard during her tour of the Gallery of Presidents at the National Palace.
This was an unprecedented event in front of the portrait of Leona Vicario, recognized in 1823 as the Meritorious and Sweetest Mother of the Homeland, considered a historic event, as it was the first time a painting of a woman had been included in the main gallery of the National Palace.
As part of the national celebrations, the Plaza de la Constitución (Constitution Plaza) was lit up with traditional fireworks and hosted musical performances.
From the balcony, President Sheinbaum shouted “Mexicans, Mexicans: Long live Independence! Long live Miguel Hidalgo and Costilla! Long live Josefa Ortiz Téllez-Girón! Long live José María Morelos and Pavón! Long live Leona Vicario! Long live Ignacio Allende! Long live Gertrudis Bocanegra! Long live Vicente Guerrero! Long live Manuela Molina!
“Long live the unsung heroines! Long live the heroines and heroes who gave us our homeland! Long live indigenous women! Long live our migrant sisters and brothers! Long live the dignity of the Mexican people! Long live freedom! Long live equality! Long live democracy! Long live justice! Long live a free, independent, and sovereign Mexico! Long live Mexico! Long live Mexico! Long live Mexico!” she shouted accompanied by her husband, Jesús María Tarriba.
Similar festivities were held in nearly every city and town across the country including Quintana Roo. State Governor Mara Lezama led the 215th anniversary celebrations from the capital city of Chetumal.
Before approximately 120,000 people, Governor Lezama also shouted “¡Mexicanas y Mexicanos! Quintanarroenses, Viva la Independencia Nacional! ¡Vivan las Heroínas y los Héroes que nos dieron Patria y Libertad! ¡Viva Miguel Hidalgo! ¡Viva José María Morelos! ¡Viva Vicente Guerrero! ¡Viva Nicolás Bravo! ¡Viva Juan Aldama! ¡Viva Ignacio Allende! ¡Viva Mariano Matamoros! ¡Viva Josefa Ortiz! ¡Viva Leona Vicario! ¡Viva Andrés Quintana Roo! ¡Que Vivan las Mujeres! ¡Que vivan las Mujeres Indígenas! ¡Que viva el Humanismo con Corazón Feminista! ¡Viva Quintana Roo! ¡Viva Quintana Roo! ¡Viva México! ¡Viva México! ¡Viva México!
(Mexicans! People of Quintana Roo, Long live National Independence! Long live the Heroines and Heroes who gave us Homeland and Freedom! Long live Miguel Hidalgo! Long live José María Morelos! Long live Vicente Guerrero! Long live Nicolás Bravo! Long live Juan Aldama! Long live Ignacio Allende! Long live Mariano Matamoros! Long live Josefa Ortiz! Long live Leona Vicario! Long live Andrés Quintana Roo! Long live Women! Long live Indigenous Women! Long live Humanism with a Feminist Heart! Long live Quintana Roo! Long live Quintana Roo! Long live Mexico! Long live Mexico! Long live Mexico!)
Governor Mara Lezama celebrated the Cry of Independence from the main balcony of the Government Palace and the Civic Plaza de la Bandera in Chetumal Monday night.
During the ceremony, honors were paid to the National Flag by the marching bands of the Secretariat of Citizen Security and educational institutions, along with an escort made up of the 34th Military Zone and the XI Naval Zone.
