Pan Left Productions

On August 2, 2010 around 3:15 p.m. Officer Zinn and Officer Koontz of the Tucson Police Department called Border Patrol on a woman during a traffic stop. Border Patrol came and took her into detention.

This is Arizona.

Injunction or No Injunction. SB1070 or Not. We face this every day.

Pan Left members Jason Michael Aragón and Mary Charlotte Thurtle have been producing the documentary Under Arpaio that deals with the effect Sheriff Joe Arpaio has on Maricopa County, Arizona and the nation. In light of the enormous spotlight being put on Arizona at this time from SB1070, this statement from Jason and Mary with video clips of Under Arpaio (currently in production) reflects the producer's sense of urgency for the community to come together to defend against hate and division. A trailer can be viewed at underarpaio.com Image courtesy of Ernesto Yerena.

On July 29, Arizona will take center stage in the national debate on immigration. All eyes will be on us as the chaos and confusion from SB1070 will officially be in effect. The new state law mandates ID checks and targets workers in predominantly Latino communities. The law allows local police new powers and responsibilities, endorsing police and sheriff activities that have already affected our communities.

There was a good crowd and energy yesterday at the injunction hearing in Phoenix as people waited in front of the Federal courthouse for a decision. Judge Bolton made none, but what happened instead was a sign of things to come when SB1070 goes Live on July 29th. The people united will never be divided.
New video on the action.

Photo courtesy Diane Ovalle

Every Friday in July and on July 29th there are people coming together to stand up against SB1070 in Tucson. This Friday there will be musicians playing for la causa along with el pueblo out in full force on Congress and Granada in Downtown. Come out and Join us!

Nora Barrows-Friedman from Electronic Intifada gives insight into the approach that this media collective uses to cover the stories in Palestine and highlight voices of Palestinians. Their website is a place for independent journalists to offer an alternative to mainstream media coverage. They hosted a great workshop and offer great perspective on the connections that we face in border struggles across the world. We are not alone.

Mr. Danny Glover came into Detroit in passing just to be apart of the buzz and energy at the US Social Forum. I got him on the run and he was very gracious to give me these amazing words about activism and art.

The intention to keep up with the daily grind of USSF and keep the blog updated didn't work out as planned. This forum is a massive scramble and I wonder if there is more stress created for activists trying to run on empty in such a setting, but the opportunity to be exposed to so many people from so many movements is amazing. I was able to meet other media makers in other struggles that want to connect with Pan Left, and that is a major success for us. Being a newcomer and hosting a screening and a workshop this week on the fly was daunting, but well worth it. We have more potential than we can imagine. Thanks to mi companer@ Yaya for all her help and support and the great support of Tucson comunidad in Detroit. We really planted some good seeds for future solidarity with others outside of Arizona and living en la otra lado de la frontera. The possibilities are limitless and our fight in Tucson can and should be global. Hopefully this will be a step in the right direction. Lot's to share and I promise more videos very soon. Paz.

AZ Resistencia Screening and Workshop
Thursday, June 24 8pm and Friday, June 25 12pm
COBO HALL- 2ND FLOOR
PEOPLE'S MEDIA CENTER
Pan Left will be hosting a Thursday night screening of videos from Arizona. Youth Power! People Power! Indigenous Right! All against the threat of Hate and Militarization in Arizona. Watch and Hear from the people in the struggle. Includes Pan Left video by J.M. Aragón with never before seen footage from Under Arpaio, episodes of Voices From the AZ Struggle, and more!
Special guests include Reporter Valeria Fernandez with video from 90 Days to Phoenix, People of the Puente Movement, Tucson youth organizers, Coalicion de Derechos Humanos, and Jose Matus of Alianza Indigena.
Friday June 25 12pm to 2pm- Pan Left will host an in-depth workshop including Pan Left videos with panelists from Arizona that will share their experience and collaboration with grassroots media.

Day 1: Just trying to figure out the scramble and hustle in Detroit. So far I learned that things are tough all over, but especially so around here. Empty stores and vacant lots galore. But that's not the whole story. I also realized Detroit is a Border Town. It didn't dawn on me until today, but that's one thing that we got in common. So far I haven't sen migra running around like in Tucson, but I'm curious to learn more. As for the USSF, it came in like a big wave today and I'm trying to catch up. People are interested about our screening on Thursday and looks like Pan Left is making some good connections. Here's a rush edit video about the busy day and, warning, I'm not the best on camera personality, so get your Anderson Cooper fix somewhere else. More interesting people and interviews to come.
Paz.