immigrants at Brave New Films

Protesters Challenge Dunkin on Hate Groups and HB5756

2008-08-20T16:20:37Z

Anti-hate group activists gathered in front of IL Representative Ken Dunkin's office today to protest his support for HB 5756, a bill being promoted by the Minutemen and FAIR, a recognized hate group (www.splcenter.org).

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Woody Guthrie's I Ain't Got No Home

2008-07-09T13:46:57Z

Woody Guthrie's song about the displaced, the homeless, the migrants. Although this was an attack on capitalists and corporations during the depression, in this age of uffettered corporate control of society and government, in this age of anti-immigrant and anti-worker hysteria whipped up by the discredited but still dominant corrupt corporate media, with home and farm foreclosures at an all-time high, Woody's words were never more true for millions of Americans and immigrants.

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Dying to live- immigrating to the US-1/2

2008-07-02T06:39:11Z

Joseph Nevins on "Dying to Live: A Story of US Immigration in an Age of Global Apartheid"

As we mark World Refugee Day, Joseph Nevins traces the human tragedy of immigration across the US-Mexico border. His starting point is the story of Julio Cesar Gallegos, who died ten years ago in the scorching desert between California and Mexico. He was trying to be reunited with his wife and son in Los Angeles. [includes rush transcript]

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Dying to live- immigrating to the US-2/2

2008-07-03T16:40:18Z

Joseph Nevins on "Dying to Live: A Story of US Immigration in an Age of Global Apartheid"

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Professor David Brotherton: Deported to the D.R.

2008-08-20T16:24:28Z

David Brotherton, Professor of Sociology at John Jay College in New York City, has done extensive research on the effects of deportation. In his interview with Breakthrough, he reveals how his work led him to the Dominican Republic to interview men that had lived in the United States for 30 years legally, only to be detained and deported for minor crimes. These men were forced to return to a place where they had no ties, separated from their families, and subjected to the shame and ridicule of being a "deportee."

Breakthrough

www.breakthrough.tv

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Live from Jail

2008-08-20T16:24:27Z

Breakthrough went "live from jail" and interviewed several long time permanent U.S residents who face possible deportation because of unfair 1996 immigration laws. The three we interviewed will most likely be sent back to countries they haven't seen since they were very young. As one says, "this is a nightmare that I've not been able to wake up from."

Step inside the shoes of an immigrant- play ICED - I Can End Deportation- www.ICEDGAME.com

Breakthrough

www.breakthrough.tv

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Do Open Borders Benefit All? - Viv Regan

2008-07-07T14:42:39Z

Complete video at: fora.tv

NGO organizer Viv Regan argues against stricter immigration controls to Britain, on the claim that open borders and freedom of movement benefit all members of a society in the long run.

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A Debate: "This House Would Let in Fewer Immigrants."

Two teams debate the proposition that immigration policy be changed to reduce the numbers of immigrants allowed into Great Britain. - Cambridge Union Society

Viv Regan is Assistant Director of education charity, NGO, NVYO WORLDwrite which campaigns for global equality. She is also Producer of Chew on it productions and is a freelance assessor of youth programmes and co-director of the educational consultancy ME-WE.

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A Tighter Border for Great Britain? - Roger Helmer

2008-07-07T10:41:15Z

Complete video at: fora.tv

Roger Helmer, Conservative Party Member of the European Parliament, argues for increased border security based on what he identifies as four principal categories of immigrants to Britain.

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A Debate: "This House Would Let in Fewer Immigrants."

Two teams debate the proposition that immigration policy be changed to reduce the numbers of immigrants allowed into Great Britain. - Cambridge Union Society

Roger Helmer is a British politician and a Conservative Party Member of the European Parliament for the East Midlands region. He has described himself as a eurosceptic and is a supporter of the Better Off Out campaign.

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S Africa police tackle anti-foreigner violence - 22 May 2008

2008-06-08T03:29:17Z

Politicians are blaming the police in South Africa for not stopping attacks on foreigners. The ruling African National Congress party hit out after at least 42 immigrants were beaten and burned to death. Poor black South Africans accuse the foreigners of keeping them unemployed by taking their jobs. Al Jazeera's Kalay Maistry reports on the latest from Johannesburg.

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Inside Story - Violence in South Africa - May 21 08- Part 2

2008-06-18T03:30:52Z

We ask are immigrants becoming the scapegoats for the country's woes?

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Inside Story - Violence in South Africa - May 21 08- Part 1

2008-06-18T03:30:51Z

We ask are immigrants becoming the scapegoats for the country's woes?

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Democracy Now Headlines- Tues. May 13, 2008

2008-06-06T21:31:08Z

Today's Headlines
Over 12,000 Killed in Chinese Earthquake
Clinton Expected to Win in WV; Obama Looks to November
McCain Outlines Plans to Address Global Warming
Up to 700 Arrested in Immigration Raid in Iowa
Report: 83 Immigrants Have Died in US Custody
Bush Vows to Help Arm Lebanese Army
Bush Accuses Iran of Arming Militias in Iran
US Admits Some "Iranian-Supplied" Arms Aren't from Iran
Ban Ki-moon Presses Burmese Junta to Accept Aid
Inglewood, California Police Shoot Dead Unarmed Teenager
South African Apartheid Suit to Proceed
Pentagon Drops Charges Against Alleged 20th Hijacker

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May Day Mashup - Los Angeles

2008-06-06T21:29:51Z

2008 L.A. May Day Rally mashed up!

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France strike_25_APR_08

2008-06-16T15:33:33Z

Hundreds of illegal immigrants have walked out of their jobs in France, protesting over their state of legal limbo and demanding official papers. President Nicolas Sarkozy has acknowledged foreign workers are important for the French economy, but says existing laws must be followed. From Paris, Estelle Youssoufa reports.

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Bruce Thornton - Muslim Immigration and European Security

2008-06-06T09:38:08Z

Complete video at: fora.tv

Author and CSU-Fresno Professor of Classics Bruce Thornton argues that muslim immigration is negatively affecting European security.

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Peter Robinson interviews Fresno State Classicist Bruce Thornton about his new book Decline and Fall: Europe's Slow Suicide.

In his new book, Decline and Fall: Europe's Slow Motion Suicide, Bruce Thornton asserts that Europe has turned its back on the Western tradition to which it owes its greatness. It has abandoned pride in the nation, discarded traditional Christianity, and, in so doing, is without unifying values, ideals, and beliefs.

But if Europe is still democratic, and if it still embraces the free market, why should anyone care that Judaeo-Christian religious beliefs are slipping away. The answer lies in the coinciding rise of radical Islam - Hoover Institution

Bruce S. Thornton is a classicist at California State University, Fresno. He is a frequent guest on talk radio shows across the United States and appeared regularly on ABC's Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. Thornton is a regular contributor to the popular, conservative website www.CaliforniaRepublic.org and has written several books.

Peter M. Robinson is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, where he writes about business and politics, edits Hoover's quarterly journal, the Hoover Digest, and hosts Hoover's television program, Uncommon Knowledge.

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A Dream Deferred

2008-08-20T16:23:48Z

Every year, dedicated high-school students are denied the chance to attend college, based solely on their undocumented status. These young patriots are doctors who will never get the chance to heal us, teachers who won't be able to educate our children, police and firefighters who will never be able to protect us—all because their dreams have been deferred.

All three presidential hopefuls co-sponsored the federal DREAM Act, yet it has never been made law. The DREAM Act would enable states to grant in-state tuition to these hardworking immigrant students, making higher education (and eventually citizenship) a real possibility.

We need to put pressure on all three presidential candidates to commit to securing America's future by enacting the federal DREAM Act in their first 100 days of office.

Sign the petition so that we can show our elected officials that the dreams of students must not be sacrificed to the anti-immigrant, anti-American status quo.

GOP Rep Goode Wants to End Muslim Immigration & Politicians

2008-06-15T15:35:39Z

VA GOP Rep Virgil Goode has sent a letter to constituents warning against Muslim Immigration and the increase of Musli politicians.

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The Myth of Aztlan: Tales of Conspiracy and Paranoia

2008-02-28T02:03:31Z

I was checking my e-mail about two days ago when I received a notice from the Facebook that a student from a local university had added me to his friend list and sent me a message. Curiously, I checked the message and he wanted to ask about our Latin American organization at the college. I responded to him and told him a bit about the fun things we like to do, like screen Latin American films and host cultural events flavored with Latin American delicacies. After I sent him the message, I briefly checked out his profile. One of his interests was: Aztlan militant.

At the moment, I immediately remembered how I came to find out about the Aztlan conspiracy. It’s funny, because I learned about Aztlan when I was in third grade when my teacher taught us Aztec mythology. I had learned that Aztlan was some distant land from where the early Aztecs emigrated. It did not mean anything else to me. I did not think much about the term when I came to the United States, for I had better things to do, like learn English and eat as much pizza as I possibly could.

As I began to become acquainted with opponents of immigration, I learned that one of their biggest fears was that immigrants were invading the United States to form once again the long lost Aztlan. When I read this, I wanted to laugh. Growing up in an immigrant community, I did not ever once hear the name of Aztlan uttered.

This is just another piece of misinformation that the opponents fling at us. I am sorry to disappoint you, but we aren’t exactly trying to rebuild Aztlan or be part of a “Reconquista.” I do not deny that there are some insane people out there who believe in Aztlan, just as there are communists and KKK members. Extremists of all forms will be present at all times. But it doesn’t mean the majority of people hold on to such beliefs, right?

Why won't immigrants learn English?

2008-02-12T19:57:46Z

Why won’t immigrants learn English?

Why won’t immigrants learn English? Why do they blatantly speak Spanish, German, Chinese, (insert language here)? They obviously want to change our way of life!

Such are the claims of people who fear immigrants.

In the summer of 2006 I took the initiative to go out there and teach ESL. I admit it—at first, I did this because I did not have much to do over the summer before my classes began at the local university and I thought it’d be a good activity to put down on my resume. However, the experience changed my life significantly. Although I was aware that immigrants do take the initiative to learn English (most of my family and relatives speak it, ca. 80%), I did not have much experience with the outside immigrant community. Teaching ESL opened my eyes and helped me realize that a significant number are willing to learn a second language.

I find it odd to hear that people like us refuse to learn English. It goes against common sense—as I reported in my previous post, my parents encouraged me to learn the language; learning more than one language would expand my career choices later in life. In other words, to discourage someone from learning a second language is not very sound. From my experience, most immigrant parents would agree. But to learn English does not necessarily mean to forget or stop using one’s native language.

I haven’t forgotten Spanish. However, since I’m at college, I rarely use it, unless I take a Spanish class or so. Consequently, I feel more comfortable writing and speaking in English. However, since I am fascinated with language, I’ve made sure I keep up with my Spanish. There are many immigrant students, however, who don’t have the same passion as I do. Since they came as children, sometimes they choose to speak in English, since they need it to do well in school and communicate with their peers on a daily basis.

Immigrant adults feel more comfortable speaking in Spanish to their peers. Even when I taught them in the classroom, sometimes they could not resist using Spanish to communicate with their peers, even though I highly discouraged Spanish during my class. It didn’t make me upset, however. They needed Spanish to help their peers understand grammar or vocabulary. Most importantly, they were taking the initiative to learn English to help their children at school, to communicate better with their managers in the workplace, etc.

Whether or not these immigrants I taught were out of status or permanent residents, I did not care. I was happy that they were interested in learning more about a language that has changed my life significantly.

Fact to consider: The US Census estimates that of 28 million families of Latin American descent, 13.8 people spoke English "less than very well." This is about 5% of the population.

A Duty to Heal

2008-06-09T15:35:49Z

Complete video at: fora.tv

Dr. Pius Kamau reads his essay "A Duty to Heal." This excerpt is taken from a program on the book "This I Believe," featuring Dan Gediman.

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Dan Gediman, the executive producer of NPR's This I Believe, joins local contributing essayists to read from This I Believe.

Featuring many renowned contributors - including Isabel Allende, Colin Powell, Gloria Steinem, William F. Buckley, Jr., Penn Jillette, Bill Gates, and John Updike - this collection also contains essays by a Brooklyn lawyer; a part-time hospital clerk; and a man who serves on Rhode Island's parole board. The result is a stirring and provocative trip inside the minds and hearts of a diverse group of people whose beliefs - and the incredibly varied ways in which they choose to express them - reveal the American spirit at its best - Tattered Cover

Before coming to the U.S. in 1971, Dr. Pius Kamau studied medicine in Spain, England and his native Kenya. A thoracic and general surgeon, Kamau also writes a column for the Denver Post. He is currently organizing a medical group to work in Sudan.

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Little Africa

2008-08-20T16:53:56Z

116th Street streching from lenox Ave to Morningside Ave in Harlem, set the moniker Little Africa. Immigrants from the motherland have settle and created shops restaurants for the community. Here are a few scenes from the first African-Day Parade,

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An Italian town's wall of division - 21 Jan 08

2008-06-10T09:30:36Z

Italy may have contributed to more than its fair share of immigrants around the globe over the years, but it seems, these days, some Italians are becoming a little more choosey about the flow of people coming the other way.

The town of Cittadella in northern Italy has become the first place to declare which immigrants can live within its medieval walls.

Other towns could now follow suit.

Nazanine Moshiri reports

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A Fresh Start on Immigration for 2008

2008-01-12T20:47:32Z

Ah, a New Year: a time for New Year's resolutions, housecleaning, fresh starts, and... 800-pound gorillas.

As Iowa gears up for the frenzied Democratic and Republican Presidential caucuses and candidates from Romney to Huckabee to Giuliani sling expensive ad mud against each other for their (at least previously) sort-of-practical stances on immigration policy, immigration has become the 800-pound gorilla in campaign war rooms across the country.

Though up to 78% of voters polled expressed support for legalization undocumented immigrants, candidates and the major parties continue to approach the issue without broaching how the American middle class, in addition to immigrants themselves, can benefit from smart immigration policy. A recent essay from Christopher Jencks points out just how little substance there is to most mainstream political stances on the issue.

(As in Hillary’s hokey-pokey on whether or not she supported issuing driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants, Rudy’s hokey-pokey over his immigration policies during his tenure as New York City’s Mayor, and even Mike Huckabee’s initially practical approaches to Arkansas immigrant community needs before deciding if he becomes President, all undocumented people will leave the country within 120 days. Now if those aren’t examples of dances of indecision, I don’t know what are.)

Walls of Shame - US/Mexico - 05 Nov 07 - Part 1

2008-06-14T21:30:01Z

A look at the physical barriers and immigration policies separating the US from Mexico.

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Tense situation on the US Mexico border - Nov 4 07

2008-06-15T03:29:47Z

George Bush may have failed to pass major reforms this year to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the country. But with the countdown underway to the 2008 presidential election it's an issue that's already dominating campaigning. Some critics are arguing that the United States is busy protecting borders abroad in Iraq and Afghanistan - but neglecting their own at home, as Shaun Devitt reports.

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