Free screening happening in Los Angeles tomorrow night... "Second Battle" is the tragic story of two military spouses fighting to stay in the United States, the country for which their husbands bravely served. It features Army Specialist Jack Barrios, who returned home from Iraq to discover his wife, who entered this country undocumented as a young child, facing deportation.
It also highlights the struggles of Hota Ferschke, a Japanese woman fighting to remain in the U.S. after her husband was killed while serving with the Marines in Iraq. Due to an outdated provision, immigration law refuses to recognize Hota's proxy marriage to an American citizen. Here are the screening details:
"Second Battle"The screening is co-sponsored by the UCLA MSW API Caucus, Brave New Foundation, CHIRLA, Veterans Committee at the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Reform Immigration for America, American Friends Service Committee, LA Voice, Little Tokyo Service Center, A3PCON, APALC, NAKASEC, and Korean Resource Center.
Presented by Maria Elena Durazo,
Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor
Sgt. Michael Ferschke, Jr. served honorably in the Marines and lost his life in Iraq. His widow, Hota, now faces a new battle to live in the U.S. even though she is trying to honor Michael's wish to raise their son in his hometown. Unfortunately, Hota's story is not unique. Army Spc. Jack Barrios returned home still coping with battlefield trauma from Iraq to discover that his wife, Francis, is facing deportation. "Second Battle" is the tragic story of two spouses fighting to stay in the U.S. and how their husbands' honorable military service has no impact on our nation's inflexible immigration laws.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
at
National Center for the Preservation of Democracy
111 N. Central Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Free street parking after 6pm; $5 at Japanese Village Plaza; $3 at 402 E. 1st Street
7PM - Reception
8PM - Screening
Refreshments will be served
Q&A session to immediately follow screening
This exclusive event is FREE and open to the public
RSVPs are required to guarantee seating. Please register here.
"Second Battle" is the fifth episode of In Their Boots documentary series, which tells the stories of how the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan are impacting Americans at home through nonpartisan lenses. To learn more about the screening, and to RSVP, go here.