Immigration, Freedom of Press Panel Follows La Americana Documentary, 6:30 pm July 21

“La Americana” will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, in the conference rooms.

A panel discussion with the producer/director and Suzanne Gamboa, AP reporter on immigration, will follow. The discussion will focus on freedom of the press and speech and a range of immigration issues, including remittances and the role of immigrants in the national economy.

The film examines the case of a 9-year-old who, after suffering a life-threatening accident, must remain in Bolivia while her mother makes a dangerous and illegal journey to the United States, hoping to earn enough money to save her daughter’s life.

The remaining documentaries in the series are:

"Chaplains Under Fire" by Lee Lawrence and Terry Nickelson, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 28. The documentary examines the lives and work of military chaplains and the church-state tensions at the heart of the chaplaincy.

"Who Killed Chea Vichea?" by Bradley Cox, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4. The film follows the investigation of the murder of Chea Vichea, leader of a Cambodian worker's rights union. A champion of justice and the humane treatment of laborers in Cambodia's extensive production industry, Chea Vichea was killed in 2004. Cambodian police arrested two men alleged to be the culprits despite considerable evidence to the contrary. Thea Lee, AFL-CIO deputy chief of staff, will join the panel discussion following this film.

Popcorn and a cash bar will accompany each documentary.

-- Rodrigo A. Valderrama, [email protected]