FW: Last presentation of "La Historia de Nuestras Vidas" -Postville immigration raid

[Rosi Carrasco]

> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:20:32 -0600
> Subject: Last presentation of "La Historia de Nuestras Vidas" -Postville immigration raid
> From: smo...@uic.edu
> To: smo...@uic.edu
>
> Hello,
> I thought this would be of interest to some of you. I'm assuming they'll
> have translation, but I'm not sure.
> Notice that the actors will be deported the day after the play.
>
> Saludos,
>
> Sandra.
>
>
> Dear CRLN Members and friends,
>
> Come and experience the powerful last presentation of La Historia de
> Nuestras Vidas, an original play written and performed by immigrant men
> affected by the May 2008 raid in Postville, Iowa. This moving and
> creative presentation weaves together the personal narratives of seven
> men, taking us through their experiences of immigrating to the United
> States, working conditions in a meat packing plant (Agriprocessors, Inc.)
> in rural Iowa, and being arrested and imprisoned. Former CRLN Lutheran
> Volunteer Megan Nelson hails from Decorah, Iowa and played a key role in
> the translation and other aspects of the project. This play has been
> performed across Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, and this will be the final
> performance of the play before many of the actors will be deported from
> Chicago the following morning, March 23.
>
>
>
> The play will be presented at 7 pm on Monday, March 22 at Luther Memorial
> Church, 2500 W Wilson, near Chicago’s Lincoln Square and Albany Park
> neighborhoods. For more information, please visit www.crln.org/postville
> or contact Erica in the CRLN office by calling 773-293-2964.
>
>
>
> Please spread the word by placing an announcement in your congregation’s
> bulletin or community newsletter. Please contact Erica if you would like
> a flyer to display in your fellowship hall or local coffee shop.
>
>
>
> BACKGROUND
>
> On May 12, 2008 the largest worksite immigration raid in US history
> happened in the small, rural town of Postville, Iowa, Nine hundred armed
> US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, along with state
> troopers, local police, planes and helicopters, surrounded Agriprocessors,
> Inc., the largest kosher meat packing plant in the US. ICE agents arrest
> 389 undocumented workers, mostly from Guatemala. Many of these workers
> were sentenced to six months in prison.
>
> Following their 6-month imprisonment, many men were temporarily relocated
> to Deocrah, Iowa awaiting the trial of Agriprocessors, Inc. where they
> were to serve as witnesses. During this time, seven of the men came up
> with the idea of writing and performing a play about their lives. With the
> support of actors in the Decorah community, the group formed Teatro
> Indocumentado (Undocumented Theatre) and collaborated together in the
> creation and performance of this very timely, engaging and
> socially-relevant new play. La Historia de Nuestras Vidas provides a rare
> and remarkable insight into the pressing issues and personal consequences
> of US immigration policy and enforcement. Through stage imagery and
> dramatic reenactments, the ensemble transcends the language barrier and
> gives presence to the hopes and disappointments of countless immigrant
> workers. The play is presented in Spanish, with an English translation
> in the program booklet.
>
>
>

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