Newsletter, September 15, 2005
Divided We Fall
Here is our fourth Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath newsletter! Thanks for reading...
In Memory
Full story: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2005/09/four-years-ago-today.html
Before we begin our update of the production, we have to take moment to recognize the significance of Sept. 15, 2001. Four years ago today, Divided We Fall began, reluctantly, and tragically. Balbir Singh Sodhi was killed in front of his Mesa, Arizona gas station by a man claiming to be "a patriot." Sodhi's murder was the first hate-crime retribution in Sept. 11's wake.
As you know, if you've been following our production, we interviewed the Sodhi family again, just a few weeks back. Valarie Kaur, who started this project four years ago, has recorded the Sodhi family story over the years. Their family has experienced incredible loss and sadness could not have gone on deaf ears. And more and more stories, countless, as the days, months, and years have gone by since that day. We heard these stories on our last visit: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2005/08/sodhi-family.html
But, there's hope. Our film is part of that hope. If we can tell the story of Mr. Sodhi, of his incredible kindness and warmth, about how he and many others strived to be Americans and worked hard for the families, about the Phoenix community's support after the killing – we can help educate. We can help make a difference in how we perceive others who may appear different than us. We are more similar than we realize.
We will strive to do that in this film. Read on below...
Last Stop on the West Coast
Full story: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2005/08/richmond-cabbies.html
Welcome to the exciting conclusion of our little independent feature film! When you last heard from us, we were on the West Coast, specifically in the Bay Area. We concluded our West Coast production with a brief stop in Richmond in the East Bay.
Richmond is home to the highest crime rate in California, unfortunately. And, also home to the shootings of two cab Sikh drivers in the span of just a few days. This coincided with the onset of the Unites States beginning combat operations in Iraq.
Mark Gagan of the Richmond Police told us that they have not assigned these murders the label of "hate crime" because of insufficient evidence. Yet, since very little or no money was taken from each driver Harpreet Singh, community spokesperson, feels that these crimes were hate motivated.
The El Sobrante congregation has experienced an incredible amount of loss in the last four years from hate-crime murders. Balbir Sodhi was once a cab driver in El Sobrante and Richmond, along with his brother Sukhpal Sodhi. Sukhpal was killed in 2003 while driving his cab in San Francisco. We spoke with Pargat Singh who knew both murdered Sodhi brothers, and continues to face danger driving his own cab in the area. On our way back down to Los Angeles, we stopped to film a stop sign, riddled with bullet holes, a symbol of a community that has experienced so much economic depression and violence.
City So Nice, They Named It Twice
Full story: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2005/08/returning-to-ground-zero.html
That's New York, New York, of course. The DWF production team packed up the camera equipment and flew across the country to New York City. This is where it all began – Sept. 11, Ground Zero, the Aftermath. For those of you not in New York or haven't seen it in person, Ground Zero is an enormous area. It's the size of a city block, but a large city block, encircled with a high fence. There is active construction. And, a moment-by-moment recap of the attacks four years earlier. It's a chilling space, the site of mass murder. Now, people take photographs.
When the Aftermath Began
Full story: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2005/08/when-aftermath-began.html
We stayed at there to interview Amrik Chawla. On Sept. 11, he was a block away from the World Trade Center when he saw the second plane strike. Trying to flee the scene, he was then told to "Take off that turban, you terrorist!" They chased him, but he escaped down into the last subway off Manhattan into his old home neighborhood in Brooklyn. Amrik was the first person assaulted in the aftermath, only minutes after the second plane hit. No one had even seen a TV yet. Nobody knew who was responsible. But Amrik was a target immediately:
Targeting the Turban
Full story: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2005/08/targeting-turban.html
We then spoke with Amardeep Singh, the legal director at the Sikh Coalition , an advocacy group that represents Sikh Americans. As Amardeep told us when we interviewed him, he wants to be out of a job. Not because he doesn't enjoy being a lawyer and doing his job. But because the only reason the Sikh Coalition formed was to protect the rights of Sikh Americans in response to all the violence and mayhem that followed in the wake of Sept. 11 th. The fact that there has been so much violence and hatred towards the Sikh community is why he's been working constantly. He told us about three cases that have made the news:
First, Rajinder Singh Khalsa was beaten by a mob who told him to go back to his country. He still suffers from trauma and pain, but he is pursuing a criminal case and a civil case against four people. His will be the first civil case in a hate crime-related incident.
Second, Amric Singh Rathour successfully beat the New York Police Department and will be allowed to wear his turban while on duty as a traffic cop.
Third, Kevin Harrington is fighting the Metropolitan Transit Authority (a.k.a. the Subway). After 23 years of operating one of the busiest trains in Manhattan, and after being recognized as a hero of Sept. 11 by virtue of having driven his train away from the World Trade Center when the subway filled with smoke, Kevin was suddenly asked to remove his turban or place an MTA logo onto it. With the Sikh Coalition's help, Kevin is fighting to keep his usual post.
So you can see why Amardeep would prefer not to have a job. But he has one, and he's fighting the good fight. It was wonderful talking to him and listening to his passion for helping the South Asian community stand up for itself. To read Amardeep's reflections: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2005/08/sikh-coalition-vs-new-york-city.html
Many in the community feel that the media is responsible. "Can you sue CNN?" Is a question Amardeep has been asked.
Well, we decided to talk to a media expert. Joshua Friedman, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and now professor at Columbia School of Journalism, talked to us about the media and specifically its coverage of Sept. 11 and its immediate aftermath. He compared the media to a lumbering dinosaur with a tiny brain attracted to sudden movements. And, unfortunately, violence against Sikhs, Muslims, and Arab Americans weren't moving quickly enough for the media dinosaur – to extend the metaphor. Professor Friedman's reflections are posted with Amrik's story: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2005/08/when-aftermath-began.html
The End Is Near
After our stay in New York, we packed our bags and headed to Washington, DC for the very last leg of production and where we get down right political. Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion…
In the mean time, we want to extend an extra special thanks to Chitranjan Brar for letting us stay at her wonderful home in Piscataway, and for Dolly Brar for once again joining us on our crazy bi-coastal production trip. And a heartfelt, truly heartfelt thanks to Dale Saini, production assistant who joined us from Atlanta to be in New York. Tracy Wells, our magnificent communications director who also joined the crew in New York and traveled with us to Washington, DC.
Not to mention, thanks to Marcus Cano, producer, production coordinator, and jack of all trades who joined us on the road for the final 10 days of production.
Keep it dialed right here, until next time…
Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath
Produced and Directed by Sharat Raju (sha...@dwf-film.com )
Produced, Written and Created by Valarie Kaur (val...@dwf-film.com )
Visit www.dwf-film.com and valariekaur.blogspot.com.
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