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Border & Immigration

Tijuana Celebrates 'El Grito'

Tijuana Celebrates 'El Grito'

Transcript

This is a rush transcript created by a contractor for KPBS to improve accessibility for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Please refer to the media file as the formal record of this interview. Opinions expressed by guests during interviews reflect the guest’s individual views and do not necessarily represent those of KPBS staff, members or its sponsors.

THIS WEEK MARKS THE 200th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CELEBRATION OF MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE FROM SPAIN.

[ CHANTING – VIVA MEXICO ]

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KPBS REPORTER JOSE LUIS JIMENEZ WENT TO THE FESTTIVITIES IN MEXICO. WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

WHAT'S THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATION, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE FROM SPAIN? >> WELL, IT'S THE 200th YEAR.

SO YOU WENT DOWN THERE. WHAT WAS THE MOOD OF THE CROWD LIKE?

THE MOOD WAS AMAZINGLY FESTIVE. THERE WERE TWO CELEBRATIONS. I WENT TO THE FIRST ONE IN OLD TOWN TIJUANA. THEY CORNERED OFF SEVERAL STREETS. THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. EVERYONE WAS IN A GOOD MOOD, THERE WAS LOTS OF MUSIC AND FOOD, PEOPLE WAVING FLAGS.

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SO THAT'S INTERESTING CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT TIJUANA HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THE VIOLENCE OF DRUG CARTELS. WERE THERE ANY SPECIAL SECURITY PRECAUTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN?

YES YOU COULD SEE THEM AROUND THE PERIMETER. THERE WERE SOLDIERS IN THEIR HUMVEES WITH RIFLES. AND A HEAVY POLICE PRESENCE WITH THEIR RIFLES. THEY STAYED OUTSIDE ON THE PERIMETER. THEY WEREN'T INSIDE THE CROWD. THEY WEREN'T THAT NOTICEABLE.

SO IT DIDN'T EFFECT THE MOOD IN THAT PARTICULAR GROUP. BUT WHAT WAS THE CELEBRATION LIKE LET'S SAY IN THE REST OF THE CITY?

IN THE REST OF THE CITY YOU COULD SEE LOTS OF PEOPLE WERE OUT IN THEIR CARS, KIND OF HANGING OUT THE WINDOWS WAVING THEIR FLAGS AND YELLING VIVA MEXICO. THEY DID THE FIRST CELEBRATION ABOUT 9:00 P.M. TO GIVE PEOPLE TO GET HOME TO SEE THE PRESIDENT FELIPE CALDERON. AND THEN CALDERON WENT TO A PARK IN THE CITY AND DID THE TRADITIONAL ONE IN TIJUANA AT MIDNIGHT.

I UNDERSTAND THINGS WERE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

THEY WERE. BASICALLY THEY DID NOT HAVE A PUBLIC CELEBRATION THERE. THE MAYOR WENT TO THE BALCONY AND DID THE TRADITIONAL GREET BUT IT WAS TRANSMITTED OVER RADIO AND TELEVISION. THEN THERE WERE FIREWORKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

IT WAS SURE GETTING A SENSE OF IT IN SAN DIEGO. A LOT OF MEDIA COVERAGE. HOW LONG IS THIS PARTY GOING TO CONTINUE?

WELL, ON THE FOLLOWING -- THAT SAME THURSDAY THEY HAD A PARADE AND THEN A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TAKING FRIDAY OFF AND THE CELEBRATION WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

OKAY. WELL, ARE YOU GOING TO GO BACK DOWN AND CELEBRATE?

PROBABLY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.