BLS Bellsouth Cp

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless will join the Los Angeles Latino community in celebrating Mexico's independence with the historic re-enactment of El Grito de Dolores - Mexico's call for independence - from the steps of Los Angeles City Hall on Friday, September 15 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Los Angeles Mexican Consul General, Ambassador Ruben Beltran, will re- enact the historic call for independence and will be joined by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaregosa. Hosted by City Councilmember Tony Cardenas, the "Grito" celebration begins at approximately 5:00 p.m. on the Spring Street steps of City Hall, with a VIP reception featuring many of the City's civic, business and community leaders. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo; L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti and Councilmember's Alex Padilla, Jose Huizar and Ed Reyes are also scheduled to attend. The commemoration also will include a live concert by a variety of Latino music performers, including Banda El Recodo. "We are pleased to be part of this historic ceremony that celebrates the cultural heritage of many Angelenos," said Kelly King, vice president and general manager for Cingular Wireless in Greater Los Angeles. About Cingular Wireless: Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 57.3 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE:BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation - the ALLOVER(TM) network - and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(r), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/. Get Cingular Wireless press releases emailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://cingular.mediaroom.com/. About El Grito: On September 16, 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a parish priest in the village of Dolores, gathered his congregation of native Mexicans and mestizos (offspring of Spanish and indigenous parents) to call for Mexican independence, with the exile or arrest of all Spaniards (gachupines) in Mexico who had oppressed and exploited the native populations for hundreds of years. He ended his famous speech with a yell or grito "Mexicanos, Viva Mexico!" (Mexicans, long live Mexico!) - which was significant since the country at that time was known as Nueva Espana (New Spain). From Dolores, the revolutionaries traveled to Mexico City, gathering more and more supporters. Along the way they acquired a banner with the image of La Virgin de Guadalupe, which became a rallying point and the patron saint of Mexico. After a long and bloody struggle, Mexico's independence was obtained in 1821, 11 years after Padre Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla's fateful cry to action. Ever since, Mexico has celebrated the anniversary of "El Grito" in Mexican communities on the eve of the 16th of September. The President of the Republic of Mexico starts the ceremony by ringing the actual bell from the church in Dolores and repeating the words calling for independence, "Mejicanos, Viva Mexico" and culminating the celebration with fireworks and civic celebrations. On September 15th, Padre Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla's exhortation is repeated from the balconies of every Presidencia (Mayor's Office) in the country as part of the traditional independence celebration that are part of Mexico's Fiestas Patrias. DATASOURCE: Cingular Wireless CONTACT: Art Navarro of Cingular Wireless, +1-562-468-6520, or wireless, +1-949-300-1329, or

Copyright