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Documentary film on immigration premiers in Greensboro (10/5)

Jeremy Sprinkle
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Film explores how failed immigration policies affect North Carolinians

A new documentary film premiering in Greensboro on Sunday, Oct. 5, "From the Back of the Line: Voices of the Undocumented", takes a hard look at how current immigration policies end up hurting, not helping, North Carolina workers.

What: FREE film, speaker, community discussion, and reception on experiences of undocumented immigrants in North Carolina
When: Sunday, October 5, 2014 from 3 to 5 PM
Where: Geeksboro Coffeehouse & Cinema, 2134 Lawndale Dr, Greensboro, NC 27408
Who: All ages are welcome

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More information provided by the press release:

Area residents are invited to a free local premiere of “From the Back of the Line,” a new documentary film featuring real stories from North Carolinians about deportation and immigration detention on Sunday, October 5 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. at Geeksboro Coffeehouse & Cinema (2134 Lawndale Dr., Greensboro). At the screening, Charlotte-based activist Rausel Arista will share his recent experience in immigration detention. All ages are invited to enjoy food and participate in discussion at this event sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee and the Immigrant Rights Working Group of Guilford County.

“From the Back of the Line” is a 50-minute documentary film exploring the impact of current legislation and immigration policies on the families of undocumented immigrants living in North Carolina. The film documents the struggles of individuals caught in low-priority deportation procedures, parents raising mixed status families, high school and college-age students who have lived in the United States since childhood and other situations current legislation passes over.

According to the filmmakers, “So often in the nation's dialogue about undocumented immigrants and immigration reform, those at the center of the conversation are regarded merely as statistics, without a true picture of their lives, hopes, struggles and dreams ever being communicated.”

The Greensboro premiere of the film, which will include remarks from Rausel Arista, a Charlotte-based activist recently held in immigration detention, is designed to spark conversation about how people are falling through the gaps of proposed immigration reforms and to create greater understanding about how we can work together to fix our broken immigration system.

Filmmakers Haberdashery Films, in conjunction with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte partnered with Hannah Levinson, Armando Bellmas and the Latin American Coalition to create this unique regional film.

Sponsors of the premiere event in Greensboro include the American Friends Service Committee and the Immigrant Rights Working Group of Guilford County, whose members are providing food and encouraging local residents to join the conversation about the impact of immigration reform efforts on ourselves, friends, neighbors and communities. Contributions to Mr. Arista’s legal fund are welcome during the event.

AFL-CIO supports comprehensive, common-sense immigration reform

For far too long, our broken immigration system has allowed employers to drive down wages and working conditions in our country. The brunt of the impact has been born by immigrant workers, who face the highest rates of wage theft, sexual harassment, and death and injury on the job. But our entire workforce suffers when we allow standards to erode as millions of workers struggle to support their families without the status to assert their rights.

Read more about the AFL-CIO's "Work Without Fear" campaign for immigration reform.

movie poster

Flyer for Greensboro premier of From the Back of the Line