Light in Darkness: PBS Documentary Shows Town Joining Together Against Anti-Immigrant Violence

[pampango]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/08/10/light-in-darkness-documentary-shows-town-joining-together-against-anti-immigrant-violence/

As the national debate over immigration continues, a new film documents the story of how a town’s residents take a stand after a hate crime killing devastates their community. The documentary “Not In Our Town: Light in the Darkness” will debut Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m. ET on PBS.

The story begins in 2008 when a series of attacks by a group of seven local teenagers against Latino residents of the Long Island, N.Y., town of Patchogue ends with the killing of 37-year-old Marcelo Lucero. An Ecuadorian immigrant, Lucero had been a Patchogue resident for 13 years.

Narrated by Academy Award nominee Alfre Woodard, the documentary was filmed over a two-year period. It follows Mayor Paul Pontieri, the victim’s brother Joselo Lucero, diverse community leaders, residents and students as they openly address the underlying causes of the violence, work to heal divisions and initiate ongoing action to ensure everyone in their village will be safe and respected.

Patrice O’Neill, the film’s executive producer and director, says:

…we hope this film sparks constructive discussions that separate policy differences from human issues and community safety, so that what happened in Patchogue will never happen again.

The film will air during the Not In Our Town’s National Week of Action. From Sept. 18-24, media and communities across the country will host screenings, events and discussions on hate crime prevention, working to develop new ways to make their towns safer. Public media stations in 20 markets, along with partner organizations will use the film to initiate dialogue about issues of intolerance in their communities.

[pinboy3niner]

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