3pm briefing addressing impact of SCOTUS decision on Arizona SB1070 in N.C.

June 25, 2012 at 2:11 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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With the U.S. Supreme Court “split decision” today over Arizona SB 1070, We Are NC, an alliance of organizations and individuals working on immigration issues in North Carolina, will be holding a press briefing to address the impact of the SCOTUS decision on N.C. The Supreme Court struck down three provisions of the controversial Arizona law. They indicated that the fourth, dealing with how local law enforcement checks immigration status, could face further legal challenges.

WHAT: We Are NC telephonic press briefing for all media
WHO: We Are NC, with guests Jess George (Latin American Coalition), Alvaro Huerta (National Immigration Law Center), Raul Pinto (ACLU of NC), Angelica Velazquillo (an undocumented activist from North Carolina), and George Reed (NC Council of Churches).
WHEN: Monday, June 25, 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Dial-in Number: 1-712-432-3100; Conference Code: 969745

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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: we.are.nc.online@gmail.com, 919-926-8459.

The SCOTUS opinion is available here.

We Are NC is also involved in planning a vigil response later tonight

NC groups to respond to expected SCOTUS decision on Arizona SB1070

June 22, 2012 at 3:29 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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While the Obama administration has taken some steps in its stance on immigration issues, the U.S. Supreme Court continues to be somewhat sluggish in its decision regarding Arizona’s SB1070.

In similar spirit as protestors in Arizona, local NC groups and individuals in an alliance called “We are NC” will be holding events throughout the state, including an event in downtown Raleigh at 7pm in a “Teach-in and Silent Vigil.”

More information on the Raleigh event can be found on their facebook event page.

And also check out this documentary short following a local NC undocumented youth as part of a master’s thesis by UNC student Josh Davis. His full project, “the undocumentary,” here.

the undocumentary: documenting the undocumented – “illegal” [VIDEO]

June 15, 2012 at 4:17 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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Leading up to the major development from Washington regarding deportation of young immigrants earlier today were years of lives spent in the shadows. For Manuel Vasquez, a protest organized by the NC DREAM Team in September 2011 gave him a chance to “come out” into the light in civil disobedience. While the news today might be a step in the direction for a better tomorrow for the likes of Vasquez, short of a true DREAM Act, are their futures any less uncertain? And given the failure of previous attempts at prosecutorial discretion, how much will this benefit them?


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Just a Word: What one word means to a couple. [VIDEO]

May 7, 2012 at 11:52 amCategory:Yield: Love conquers everything; let us too, yield to love

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This is the final piece in a series of videos by Mimi Schiffman on North Carolina’s Amendment One:

“You know, everybody says it’s just a word, but there’s more to it. There’s a feeling of belonging,” said Jeff Enochs of Charlotte, N.C. “I wanted my state to recognize that we are going to spend the rest of our lives together.”

Watch Jeff and his partner Brian Helms travel to Washington, D.C., the closest place they can legally marry.

The wedding is set to take place just weeks in advance of North Carolina’s primary, in which voters will decide whether to amend the constitution to read: “Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.”

Production: Mimi Schiffman
Music: Phil Cook & His Feat
Additional Camera: Ben Berry

Mimi Schiffman is a photographer, videographer and multimedia producer pursuing a master’s degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This work is a part of a documentary project she is producing on marriage equality for her thesis. The work is being released in the lead-up to the 2012 North Carolina primaries on May 8, 2012, where voters are asked to decide on a constitutional amendment which could render many established same-gender couples and their families legal strangers in the eyes of the law.

Mimi’s work is being posted on Huffington Post.

Gay, Lesbian, or Whatever. Middle school students fight Amendment One. [VIDEO]

May 3, 2012 at 9:39 amCategory:Yield: Love conquers everything; let us too, yield to love

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This is the third piece in a series of videos by Mimi Schiffman on North Carolina’s Amendment One:

In a small school a little north and a little west of downtown Durham, N.C., a group of eleven-, twelve- and thirteen-year-olds has been busy organizing a field-trip.

Watch as a middle school’s gay-straight alliance, GLOW, for Gay Lesbian or Whatever, embarks on an adventure in civic engagement with real consequences for many of the club’s members.

“They don’t really see kids as having an idea of how they want their future to be like,” said Sarah, a GLOW member, “but when we actually voice our opinion it really does make a difference.”

Production: Mimi Schiffman
Music: Phil Cook & His Feat
Additional Camera: Patrick Mustain and Vanessa Patchett

Special thanks to:
Lisa Joyner
Carolina Friends School
Phil Cook

Mimi Schiffman is a photographer, videographer and multimedia producer pursuing a master’s degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This work is a part of a documentary project she is producing on marriage equality for her thesis. The work is being released in the lead-up to the 2012 North Carolina primaries where voters are asked to decide on a constitutional amendment which could render many established same-gender couples and their families legal strangers in the eyes of the law.

Mimi’s work is being posted on Huffington Post.