What does Grito de Dolores mean?

   Grito de Dolores is a Spanish phrase, literally translated to mean "the cry of Dolores." A group of patriots organized around the leadership of Miguel Gregorio Antonio Ignacio Hidalgo y Costilla, the curate of Dolores, to seize Spanish officials and set up a revolutionary government in Mexico. On Sept. 16, 1810, Hidalgo appealed to his revolutionary followers to march upon the Spanish authorities. They took as their slogan, "Long live our Lady of Guadalupe! Perish the government! Perish the Spaniards!" This was the "grito de Dolores," which became the slogan of the revolution in New Spain. This slogan is still cherished by Mexicans as an expression of their fight for independence.