Paul Rodriguez & John Quiñones Discuss Immigration Docu-Film '9500 Liberty'

Sonia, an undocumented student attending NYC's Hunter College, sat in the back of a room at the New York Times building on the night of September 7 and listened to a politically and culturally diverse panel discuss a subject that impacts her life every day: immigration. Tr3s and Blogamole were there for a screening of the documentary film 9500 Liberty, in which filmmakers Annabel Park and Eric Byler were able the capture what can happen when words instill fear in a small community and political ambition leads to controversial policies. You can catch 9500 Liberty premiering simultaneously on Tr3s, MTVU, and MTV2 on September 26 at 8 PM.

Co-sponsored by VOCES and MTV Networks, a forum discussion about 9500 Liberty and the topic of immigration took place after viewing the film. Contribuyendo al tema were actor/comedian Paul Rodriguez, ABC News Primetime anchor John Quiñones, Executive Director of the Police Executive Research Forum, Chuck Wexler, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Voto Latino, Maria Teresa Kumar, Chairman of Prince William Board of County Supervisors in Virginia, Corey Stewart, and director/producer of the film Annabel Park. The discussion was moderated by NY Times reportera Fernanda Santos, who ensured that everyone had a fair chance to voice their opinions both on the immigration issue and 9500 Liberty.

photos by Bashira Webb

Y como surgió la película? Fué curiosidad lo que motivó la pareja when Park and Byler first started documenting the tensions that were evolving in Prince William County, Virginia in 2007. There was a growing fear and divisiveness taking place in Byler’s hometown that was being used as a political tool to get local county chairmen like Corey Stewart re-elected into office. The filmmakers began recording the growing debate and posting videos on YouTube, which brought nationwide attention to this federal issue being handled at a local level.

Watch the trailer for 9500 Liberty below and get more info on the ground-breaking documentary after the cut!

As a reaction to the growing population of Latino immigrants in the community, Greg Letiecq, a blogger on a mission to rid Manassas and PWC of “illegal aliens,” set up an incendiary website and organization called "Help Save Manassas." Fueled by Letiecq, his followers, and radical anti-immigration organizations like FAIR (Federation for American Immigration Reform), PWC politicians were swayed into supporting a controversial anti-immigration resolution, and rushing to get it passed before the next elections. The most controversial point in the resolution? Much like Arizona's SB 1070, it would require police officers to demand proof of legal status from anyone whom they had “probable cause” to suspect is in their state illegally.

9500 Liberty is titled after the address of the location where legal Manassas resident Gaudencio Fernandez y su familia would post their own responses to the resolution and hateful anti-immigrant rhetoric found on Letiecq’s site, by painting messages on a large and very visible billboard. Sometimes peaceful, and at times angry, the messages at Liberty Wall, como se llegó a llamar, would cite events in history and the hard-working immigrant's desire to care for family and stay together. Fué esta misma esperanza that led organized immigrant workers, young kids speaking up for their families, and sympathising members of the PWC community to make their voices heard, and the "probable cause" section was removed from the resolution. Instead, police officers would inquire about legal status only after an arrest has been made.
After the movie's screening, the panel shared their varying views, algunas veces de acuerdo, and at times completely opposed. It was agreed all across the board that the federal government has failed in finding a viable solution for illegal immigration. Though Paul Rodriguez joked that "exploitation is underrated," también estuvieron de acuerdo that there should be bigger consequences for employers to prevent the exploitation of undocumented workers being underpaid without benefits, primarily in the agricultural industry. Rodriguez pointed out that many of these undocumented workers are doing jobs that American workers wouldn't do. John Quiñones remarked that if we want to stop immigration, corporations shouldn't hire undocumented workers at all.

It was Corey Stewart who brought forth the most disagreements, especialmente cuando dijo que 9500 Liberty was misinterpreting PWC in making it seem like the county was reacting to growing diversity, when the real reason for complaints about "illegal aliens" were reports of "overcrowded homes and cars parked on lawns." This launched a debate across the panel as to whether those terms are really indicative of legal status, or just people living in poverty and bending the housing laws.
Sonia, quien nació en el Ecuador and was one of the 21 students arrested during the July 20 demonstration on Capitol Hill supporting the DREAM Act (Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors), raised her hand to make a last remark to close the forum. She asked that we change the rhetoric that hurts her as a human being, to no longer refer to her as an "illegal alien." "I'm an undocumented immigrant," dijo la estudiante, looking directly at Stewart. While the chairman stood by his words, saying it was the correct legal term, the rest of the panel agreed with Sonia that using those words vilifies immigrants and only promotes prejudice.

As for Sonia, she appreciates that 9500 Liberty is bringing more awareness to this important conversation, but feels that a lot more still needs to be said and done. Make sure to check out the film's premiere on Tr3s, MTVU, and MTV2 on September 26 at 8 PM and let us know what you think of it.
Share your thoughts in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags 9500 Liberty, Annabel Park, Chuck Wexler, Corey Stewart, Eric Byler, Fernanda Santos, Greg Letiecq, Immigration, John Quiñones, Liberty Wall, Maria Teresa Kumar, MTV2, mtvU, paul rodriguez, SB 1070, the DREAM Act, Tr3s, Voces, Voto Latino