Charlottesville, VA Coffee Party Interview with Eric Byler

Eric Byler is interviewed by a Charlottesville TV station on Saturday, March 13, in Charlottesville on Coffee Party National Kick-off Day. According to the Coffee Party USA website, there were more than 350 coffee party meetings in 44 states on Saturday. In addition, there are now 159,000 fans on the Coffee Party Facebook page, compared to 111,991 fans for the largest Tea Party Facebook page. Not bad for a 100% grassroots movement that's just a few weeks old!

UPDATE: See the FiveThirtyEight interview with Annabel. Among other things, she talks about how Organizing for America doesn't "inspire" her. I agree, maybe it has something to do with the fact that OFA is 100% establishment, part of the - yaaaaaaawwwwwn - DNC?

"9500 Liberty" Screening in Norfolk, 12/15/09

I just received word that Eric Byler's and Annabel Park's excellent documentary on the Prince William County immigration controversy, 9500 Liberty, is being screened in Norfolk on the evening of Tuesday, December 15, at the Naro Theater (1507 Colley Avenue). I've seen the movie a couple of times now, and I strongly recommend it. Here's a synopsis from the 9500 Liberty website:

Prince William County, Virginia becomes ground zero in America’s explosive battle over immigration policy when elected officials adopt a law requiring police officers to question anyone they have "probable cause" to suspect is an undocumented immigrant.

9500 Liberty reveals the startling vulnerability of a local government, targeted by national anti-immigration networks using the Internet to frighten and intimidate lawmakers and citizens. Alarmed by a climate of fear and racial division, residents form a resistance using YouTube videos and virtual townhalls, setting up a real-life showdown in the seat of county government.

The devastating social and economic impact of the “Immigration Resolution” is felt in the lives of real people in homes and in local businesses. But the ferocious fight to adopt and then reverse this policy unfolds inside government chambers, on the streets, and on the Internet. 9500 Liberty provides a front row seat to all three battlegrounds.

If that's not enough to whet your appetite for "9500 liberty," here are a few comments by people who have seen the film.

*Film critic Desson Thomson calls it "as powerful a booster of the democratic process as anything Frank Capra ever imprinted on our collective memory."

*Author John Grisham says the movie "makes it clear when we, as a nation of immigrants, debate the immigration issue, we are defining our very identity as Americans."

*New Democratic Network President Simon Rosenberg rates it as "one of the best documentary films I've ever seen."

*Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas says "the movie is freakin' amazing."

Getting psyched to see this yet? :)

UPDATE: The timing of this screening is excellent; according to Reform Immigration for America, Representatives Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL), Nydia Vasquez (D-NY), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Mike Honda (D-CA) are planning to introduce a national comprehensive immigration reform bill earlier that day.

DC Premiere of "9500 Liberty" a Big Success

This interview was shot last night - following the premiere of Annabel Park's and Eric Byler's documentary, "9500 Liberty," on the Prince William County immigration issue - by the blog Carlos in DC. The film was shown in front of several hundred people - myself included - at the Landmark E Street Cinemas near Metro Center, as part of the 2009 DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival. Carlos in DC writes:

I spoke to several people who saw the film last night, and the overwhelming response was in support of the message this documentary film expresses, towards respecting human rights regardless of immigration status and stopping racism in all its forms.

Most people in the audience where Whites and Asians, and when I asked their opinions about the possibility of an Immigration Reform, they told me they are in favor but they think it will be hard to pass it anytime soon, unless more education and advocacy is promoted among those who are anti-immigrants rights.

For more coverage of the film, see NBC4, where Eric Byler is quoted as saying, "This is the same kind of politicized hysteria we saw at the townhall protests." Also see NDN, which notes that last night "was not only a proud night for Annabel Park and Eric Byler, the filmmakers, but for all who lived through the terrible fight on immigration in Prince William County, and for those of us who are directly or indirectly affected by the anti-immigrant sentiments seen on screen." For future screenings, including one in Prince William County next Friday (October 9), click here. Personally, having watched this film develop from a series of YouTube videos into early rough drafts into the final version I saw last night, I'm excited for Annabel and Eric, but even more so, hopeful that this film will be viewed by as many people as possible. It's powerful.

P.S. I shot some video of the Q&A session with Annabel, Eric, and Washington Post film critic Desson Thomson after the film, but the lighting was very low and the video didn't come out well. I may end up posting the audio only...trying to decide.

Documentary on Prince William County Immigration Issue Wins Award at Charlotte Film Festival

Congratulations to my friends Annabel Park and Eric Byler, whose film "9500 Liberty" just won the "Jury Prize at Charlotte Film Festival -- Indie Truth Award for Best Documentary." The film "reveals the startling vulnerability of a local government [in Prince William County], targeted by national anti-immigration networks using the Internet to frighten and intimidate lawmakers and citizens." According to Annabel Park:

Next stop, we will be premiering in DC on October 1st at the DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival as the opening night film. You can buy tickets here for the screening and reception. This is our big hometown premiere screening with the "stars" from the film and a big after party so it is not to be missed if you are in the DC area.

This is the list of scheduled screenings including Prince William County, Honolulu, St. Louis, San Diego, Charlottesville, etc. We are adding more screenings including in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles in the coming weeks.

Thank you for supporting us throughout these months. Some of you have been with us for nearly two years. In fact, the second-year anniversary of the creation of the 9500 Liberty YouTube Channel will be celebrated on October 9th with the residents of Prince William County with a special community screening of the film at St. Paul's Church in Woodbridge.

I saw the film several months ago at a showing in Rosslyn with John Grisham hosting. I strongly recommend that you check it out!

John Grisham Introduces Makers of 9500 Liberty Film

Also, check out John Grisham's 7-minute speech last night prior to the showing of Annabel Park and Eric Byler's powerful new documentary ("9500 Liberty") on the immigration debate in Prince William County during 2007 and 2008. The film screening and speech by John Grisham was part of a fundraiser for the Legal Aid Justice Center, an organization which "provides legal representation for low-income individuals in Virginia." The event was held at the Rosslyn Spectrum Theater in Arlington, with several hundred people - including Prince William County board member Frank J. Principi and Police Chief Charlie Deane - attending. Also speaking was former Arlington County Board chair Walter Tejada.

The film itself was excellent, with a compelling narrative structure and strong characters - both heroes and villains. Undoubtedly, the biggest villains in the film are anti-immigrant blogger/Help Save Manassas founder Greg Letiecq and Prince William County board chair Corey Stewart (R), who is portrayed as Letiecq's puppet and as a person with no core beliefs beyond his own burning political ambition. The heroes of the film are Annabel and Eric themselves, who evolved from being observers to active participants in the emotionally charged battle over immigration in Prince William County. Other heroes include Chief Deane, Frank Principi, bloggers Alanna Almeda and Elena Schlossberg of anti-BVBL, numerous people who spoke at "citizens' time," former Prince William County board member Hilda Barg, and 9500 Liberty wall creator Gaudencio Fernandez.

If you made it tothe event last night, you certainly were in for a powerful experience. If you missed it, my understanding is that another screening is scheduled for June. I'm also hoping that a distributor picks this up and gets it the much wider exposure it so richly deserves. Kudos to Annabel Park and Eric Byler for making this movie, and more broadly for getting involved!

P.S. There's also a cameo appearance by Ben Tribbett of NLS, in which he gives Alanna Almeda the idea of starting a blog. It's very funny the way it's portrayed in the film; you can almost literally see the lightbulb going on above Almeda's head as Ben talks about how he would fight against the anti-immigrant blog BVBL.

John Grisham and 9500 Liberty Event

I encourage everyone to check this out: John Grisham and a screening of filmmakers Annabel Park's and Eric Byler's documentary, "9500 Liberty," about the Prince William County immigration controversy. Great stuff!

P.S. Click on the image above to "embiggen." Thanks.