America's Voice Blog

Posted 01/24/12 at 01:07pm By Mahwish Khan

Demian Bichir Nominated as Best Actor for Portrayal of Undocumented Immigrant in “A Better Life”

As usual, there's plenty of politics-related immigration news today -- and we'll get to it. But first, we want to take note of some entertainment news on the immigration front today: An Oscar nomination. Demian Bichir was nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of an undocumented immigrant in "A Better Life," which was directed by Chris Weitz. From US Weekly Magazine:

Demian Bichir, however, is this year's dark horse. Though the 48-year-old actor may not yet be a household name in the United States, the Mexican star has been working steadily since the age of 14.

"I'm overwhelmed for having my name among those incredible actors," Bichir, who stars in A Better Life, tells Us Weekly in a statement. "This could have never happened if [Academy Award winning director and immigration reform activist] Chris Weitz had not been the head of this film. He is my brother and I thank him deeply." 

Bichir's nomination may come as a shock, given that he wasn't recognized at the Golden Globes or the Critics' Choice Awards. As a result, several other stars -- including Shame's Michael Fassbender and The Ides of March's Ryan Gosling -- were surprisingly snubbed.

"Hopefully more and more people will jump into iTunes and Netflix to see our film," Bichir tells Us. "That will be the biggest reward we could get. I dedicate this nomination to those 11 million human beings who make our lives easier and better in the U.S."

For those of you who aren't familiar with Chris' work, the director is well-known for his mega-hit movies, Twilight: New Moon, The Golden Compass, and About A Boy. His movie, "A Better Life", is about an undocumented father (played by Demian Bichir) as he labors hard and long hours as a gardener in LA to keep his son off the streets.

Congrats to Demian and Chris, who show in this touching film that 11 million human beings do makes our lives easier and better in the U.S., and we need to keep working to make their lives better.

Here's the trailer for "A Better Life":

 

Posted 11/18/11 at 03:52pm By Mahwish Khan

Hip-Hop’s Rhymefest, Jasiri-X, and Paradise Coming to Alabama To Speak Out About HB 56

Jasiri X, Rhymefest, ParadiseComing to survey Alabama this weekend are three well-known and well-respected hip hop artists: Rhymefest, Jasiri-X, and Paradise, known as “Arkitech” of the X-clan (someone who was described to me as one of the “forefathers of hip-hop.”)

They are going to be in Birmingham, Alabama to attend the launch of the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice campaign against HB 56, Alabama’s worst-in-the-nation immigration law. The event, which is slotted for the 21st, will kick-off with a delegation of 9 members of Congress, led by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL). 

A little background information on HB 56: Alabama’s immigration legislation comes down on both undocumented and documented immigrants, and American citizens aren’t safe from it either.  In fact, the law is so bad that even Republican politicians are looking to review the law because of its “unintended consequences.”  Late last week, they even removed notorious architect of the law, State Senator Scott Beason, from his position as Chair of the Alabama Senate Rules Committee. This law is so harsh that it even comes down on children, who are now too afraid to go to school -- something Rhymefest might be interested in knowing, given his substitute teacher beginnings...

Rhymefest, who is from Chicago, has co-written with the likes of Kanye West, and was the first American rapper to meet with British dignitaries. His bio poetically states "Few rappers can brag about defeating the lyrical wizard Eminem in one breath, stake claim to music’s most coveted prize – a Grammy. From battling off the top of the head, to penning classic hits, Rhymefest is one of Hip Hop’s most dangerous emcees."

The artist explained to America's Voice why he’s coming to Alabama.

"Barack Obama's father was an immigrant, Arnold Schwarzenegger is an immigrant. This is a nation of immigrants, why is Arizona and Alabama discriminating against the American Tradition that made this country great? It's the great hypocrisy!"

Jasiri-X, who is getting much acclaim for his song in support of the Occupy movement, "Occupy (We the 99),"  (check out the video on YouTube) added, "Legislation like Arizona's SB 1070 and Alabama's AB 56, designed specifically to single out one group of people for persecution is at best anti-American, and at worst, legalized racism." He and Paradise Gray have been involved in a number of campaigns, and are co-founders of One Hood Media, which is a project to train urban youth on media outreach.

The artists are going to be traveling around Alabama with one young activist, William Anderson, who has gotten some attention already for his Change.org petition asking Kanye West, who was just in Alabama with Jay-Z prepping for their latest tour, to stand up and make a statement against the law. William and friends, like Victor Palafox and the Alabama Dreamers for the Future, have been on the frontlines in the battle against HB 56. These young people are really amazing leaders. (Check out their new twitter account: BamaDREAMers). 

Word is spreading, and we'll have more once they land. Stay tuned here for updates on their trip this weekend.

Posted 11/01/11 at 11:31am By Mahwish Khan

Hollywood Director, Chris Weitz, Speaks Out Against The Republican “War on Illegals”

Chris WeitzBetween Herman Cain calling for an “electrified fence” to keep out “illegals,” and Michele Bachmann saying she’ll do nothing to help the children of undocumented immigrants -- all while Alabama (and now South Carolina) are trying to scare immigrants back to Mexico – famous Hollywood director,Chris Weitz, decided he wanted in on some of the action.

In an column published at the Daily Beast, the Twilight director exposes the Republican hypocrisy on the immigration issue:

My business is entertainment, not pies, so I may be off base here, but where does Cain get his toppings? I mean, you know, pepperoni, sausage, garlic, bell peppers. The reason I'm asking is that labor in the meat-packing and agricultural industries is largely supplied or—to make a funny joke!—infected by undocumented immigrants.

Have you ever picked garlic? Slaughtered a cow? Cleaned up centrifugally expressed spinal-column meat? I haven't. Want to know why? I don't want to! And neither do the vast majority of citizens, whether employed or unemployed. You'll be shocked—shocked—to know that the immigrant workers who have been forced to leave backbreaking labor in the fields of Georgia and Alabama due to restrictive anti-immigrant laws have not been replaced by armies of the white, documented unemployed.

This is the dirty little secret of big business, the Republican Party, and undocumented labor. Big business—and big businessmen like Cain—loveillegal immigration. Undocumented immigrants are hardworking, uncomplaining (you would be too if you could get turned in to the authorities at any moment!), and cheap. They are easily exploitable, and they lower the wage base of the entire workforce. Worried about hiring them? No problem! There are "subcontractors" willing to take on that risk for a price. Which is how, for instance, Mitt Romney can claim that he "never hired an illegal." He just hired a company that hired “illegals."

Chris Weitz is better known for his mega-hit movies, Twilight: New Moon, The Golden Compass, and About A Boy, however, earlier this year, Weitz released a movie, "A Better Life", about an undocumented father, whose hard work and long hours as a gardener in LA are all to give his son more opportunities.

The story sticks. For those of you who haven’t seen it, here’s more information. It’s a must-see on the lives of the undocumented. According to movie reviewer Greg Quill of the Toronto Star:

[A Better Life] Personalizes the illegal immigrant experience and digs much deeper into what has become a national disgrace.

And -- as Chris Weitz noted in his article yesterday -- we all know who’s to blame for that.

Posted 02/28/11 at 03:40pm By Matt Hildreth

Shakira on Immigration: “Justice will come. I’m sure.”

"Justice will come. I'm sure."

That’s what pop-singer and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Shakira, told the AP when asked about newly proposed anti-immigration legislation -- like Arizona’s SB 1611 (popularly known as “SB 1070 on steroids”), which would bar illegal immigrants from attending public schools, living in public housing or driving.

"Wherever there is ... a kid, who could be the son or the daughter of a Latino immigrant, who cannot attend a school in the United States of America, that kid should be a concern to all of us and our responsibility." She said.

On Saturday, Shakira was awarded the "2011 Artist of the Year" from Harvard University for her "distinguished history of creativity,” and charitable contributions.  The Colombia native used the event to shed light on new anti-immigrant legislation brewing inside Arizona’s state capitol.

Another bill in Arizona seeks to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. if their parents are undocumented immigrants.

Shakira said that legislation like SB 1611 goes against her foundation's efforts to provide education to poor people around the world. But, she said, Latino immigrants in the U.S. facing various anti-immigrant bills will have "justice" as public awareness about their plight grows.

"I believe we should never think less of the Latino community because it's a productive force in this country."

Last year, Shakira met with President Barack Obama and discuessed immigration reform, an act for which she was named by Greg Siskind as "immigrant of the day" on the Immigration Law and Policy blog.

Posted 01/19/11 at 11:04am By Jackie Mahendra

“Gone in 18 Seconds” & Why We Must Challenge 14th Century “Solutions” to Immigration

A new internet video, entitled, "2 girls undermine entire US border strategy in under 18 seconds" is causing quite a stir. It's already received nearly 1/2 a million hits on YouTube and is sure to continue to spark debate.

Watch it:

Via Huffington Post:

In a clip released as part of a documentary entitled "The Other Side of Immigration," two girls can be seen shimmying to the top of a section of border fence in a mere 18 seconds. The barrier is the kind that stretches across large expanses of the southern border, and that some would like to see extended.

"The Other Side of Immigration" is a critically-acclaimed film directed by Roy Germano about the conditions that drive Mexicans to illegally journey to the United States and the results of their displacement. This specific clip asks: "Are we getting our money's worth? Is the border fence an effective deterrent?" and appears to argue that money could be better spent improving the lives of Mexicans to discourage them from crossing the border quickly and illegally.

Click here to read more.
Posted 01/17/11 at 08:30am By Mahwish Khan

Freedom From Fear Award: Nominate an Unsung Hero for Immigrants and Refugees

Today we celebrate both the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the start of 2011. To many, a new year signals a new beginning – a time during which we set our goals, and set out to better ourselves. To heroes like King, that means also bettering the lives of those around us, and having the courage to do so.

The Freedom From Fear Award is a new national award that will honor fifteen people who have committed extraordinary acts of courage on behalf of immigrants and refugees.  The award is $5,000 cash.

Aquifer Media's Will Coley made this cool video to explain the award. Check it out:

Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking co-recipients, Geri Mannion from the Carnegie Foundation and Taryn Higashi from Unbound Philanthropy, used their $10,000 reward and established, with the help of funds from a few other foundations, the Freedom From Fear Award. The name takes inspiration from Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “four freedoms” speech, in which he outlined the four essential freedoms:

  • Freedom of speech and expression;

  • Freedom of religion;

  • Freedom from want; and

  • Freedom from fear.

To learn more about the rules to enter, check out the frequently asked questions portion of the website here.

Note: nominations (and self-nominations) can be made by just about anyone – and there’s no minimum age requirement.

Good luck, and may you have courage!

Posted 11/15/10 at 03:11pm By Mahwish Khan

Tonight, 10 PM EST: MSNBC Town Hall Event on “Immigration and Latino America”

Tonight, at 10:00 pm EST, Lawrence O’Donnell will host an MSNBC Special Town Hall Event on ”Immigration and Latino America” with the Executive Director of Voto Latino, Maria Teresa Kumar.  Check out their teaser:

The event, which will take place at the University of San Diego, is intended to take an in-depth look at the issue of immigration and the increasing role that the Latino population is playing in American life and politics.  More specifically, according to the press release issued late last week by Voto Latino:

The special town hall event will examine the state of immigration in the United States including the influence of the Latino voting block on the 2010 midterm elections, how Arizona’s immigration laws have affected national progress, and if the American Dream is still attainable for new generations of immigrants. The discussion will also present viable solutions for moving the country forward.

The guest list includes actress and activist Rosario Dawson, Telemundo’s Jose Diaz Balart, Executive Director of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles Alfonso Aguilar, Democratic strategist and pollster Celinda Lake  (view her recent polling on immigration here), and Dr. David Shirk, Director of the Trans-Border Institute at the University of San Diego.  And be sure to look out for America’s Voice’s Executive Director, Frank Sharry, answering questions for the audience during the two-hour event, following the panel discussion.

For more information, check out the event page on Facebook or follow our tweets (@americasvoice) and theirs (@MSNBCVL).

Posted 09/24/10 at 11:25am By Jackie Mahendra

WATCH: Stephen Colbert Testifies Before Congress on Immigration (Take Our Jobs!)

UPDATE 3:30 PM, via ThinkProgress -- Colbert broke out of character to explain why he decided to advocate for the issue:

"...it seems like one of the least powerful people in the United States are migrant workers who come and do our work but don't have any rights as a result. But yet we still invite them to come here and at the same time ask them to leave. [...] Migrant workers suffer and have no rights."

The latest from the United Farm Workers' creative Take Our Jobs Campaign -- you won't want to miss Colbert testifying before Congress today:

Via Huffington Post:

Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert is testifying before Congress today about immigration during a hearing called "Protecting America's Harvest."

Colbert is appearing with United Farm Workers (UFW) President Arturo S. Rodriguez before the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. In August, the comedian spent a day working at a corn and vegetable farm in New York state after Rodriguez appeared on his show to discuss UFW's "Take Our Jobs" campaign.

The effort was intended to debunk the theory that undocumented immigrants are taking jobs away from American citizens and highlight the fact the nation's food supply is dependent on these farm workers.

Last night Colbert aired part two of a series called "Fallback Position," where he attempts to take a migrant farmworker job himself.

Watch it and sign UFW's AgJobs letter to Congress to protect our nation's food security:

Posted 07/22/10 at 12:27pm By Jackie Mahendra

Netroots Nation Immigration Panels: Take 2

I posted this up earlier in the week, but I wanted to make sure folks here in Vegas got a shot to join us for these fabulous immigration panels, screenings, and discussions at Netroots Nation. Please stop by, and say hello in the comments or on twitter!

Note that we'll be showing off some original America's Voice video at Friday's 3pm immigration film screening with Justin Krebs. We'll be helping out with the Immigration Caucus on Friday at noon, and we'll be giving away Vegas-inspired DREAM Act scratch cards in the registration packets. Don't forget to see if you've won and to sign the DREAM Act petition to our leaders in Washington -- we'll be delivering a copy to Senate Majority Leader Reid right here in Vegas!

Also, check out this year's immigration blogger scholars-- welcome to Vegas, to our talented scholars!

From the America's Voice team, Adam Luna will be speaking Thursday at 3pm on a panel with former Police Chief Arturo Venegas and Arizona State Rep Kyrsten Sinema entitled, "Immigration Reform’s Strange Bedfellows: The Surprising Consensus that Reform will Improve American Jobs and Bolster Our Economy," and yours truly will be on a panel Saturday at 4pm with Markos, founder and publisher of Daily Kos, and Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), who's been fighting for immigration reform in what's become ground zero of the nation's immigration debate. It's called, How Immigration Reform Sustains a Progressive Majority.

Full schedule below the jump...

Click here to read more.
Posted 07/09/10 at 01:40pm By Jackie Mahendra

Coming to a Farm Near You: Steven Colbert?

That's right, you heard me. Stephen Colbert has accepted the United Farm Workers' creative challenge to Americans of all stripes to head out to the fields and try their hands at picking fruit, if they want their danged jobs back so badly.

The campaign details are over at TakeOurJobs.org, where would-be farmworkers get matched with struggling growers and immigrant trainers.

Watch Colbert's segment and see UFW's Arturo Rodriguez explain what the campaign is all about, as well as how to say "Yes We Can-wich" in Spanish. (You won't want to miss that).

The Take Our Jobs campaign has received tons of media attention for the way it directly challenges the oft-repeated claim that immigrants are simply "taking American jobs" instead of contributing to and strengthening our economy and our food security.

A couple recent headlines: Colbert teams up with UFW over immigration (AP), Farmers Tackle Immigration Issues (Miriam Jordan, Wall Street Journal), Farmworkers to Colbert: Immigration worries? Work in fields (Dylan Smith, Tucson Sentinel).

It's even spawned DIY-videos and tales of bloggers (like The Unapologetic Mexican) and journalists (like Teresa Puente) heading out to the fields to take on anti-immigrant rhetoric.

The Tucson Sentinel's Dylan Smith writes: 

The "Take Our Jobs" site asks interested parties to supply their name and area code to streamline the hiring process. It cautions, however, that "duties may include tilling the soil, transplanting, weeding, thinning, picking, cutting, sorting & packing of harvested produce. May set up & operate irrigation equip. Work is performed outside in all weather conditions (Summertime 90+ degree weather) & is physically demanding requiring workers to bend, stoop, lift & carry up to 50 lbs on a regular basis."

Click here to read more.

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