I never dreamed that someone would write a book about me or my experiences
Posted on October 9, 2009 | link
Altmuslim sat down with Kathy and Abdulrahman Zeitoun to discuss Dave Eggers newest book, Zeitoun, which depicts the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina through the lens of Abdulrahman and his family. Eggers first came across Zeitoun’s story in the second book in Voice of Witness’ series, Voices From the Storm: The People of New Orleans on Hurricane Katrina and its Aftermath.
Abdulrahman Zeitoun, a landlord and owner of a construction business, stayed behind to take care of work sites and buildings during the storm. After the levees broke, Zeitoun canoed around the city rescuing survivors and feeding abandoned dogs. One of his tenant buildings still had phone access, and he called his wife Kathy at noon every day. Kathy had taken their children to Baton Rouge, and after days without hearing from her husband, …
Ghosts of the River Community Event featuring Voice of Witness
Posted on October 8, 2009 | link
October 20th from 7-9:30 pm
Mission Cultural Center Theater
2868 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94110
FREE Admission
(reservations recommended; 415.648.4461 or leslie@shadowlight.org)
Please join Voice of Witness for a Multimedia Panel Discussion with:
Octavio Solís – playwright for Ghosts of the River
Corinne Goria – assistant editor for Voice of Witnessʼ Underground America: Narratives of Undocumented Lives
Laura Rivas -organizer for National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rightsʼ HURRICANE project
For more information about the panelists and event, click here
*simultaneous translation provided (English to Spanish)
This event brought to you in part, by the support of the California Arts Council.
Special visas help abused illegal immigrants
Posted on October 6, 2009 | link
For years, Laura Theresa Leon Sanchez says, she was beaten, raped and robbed by her boyfriend. If she tried to leave, he threatened to have her deported. Sanchez eventually got help from authorities – along with a special visa offered by the government to encourage illegal immigrants to report violent crime. AP Press.
The Associated Press reports that this year the government has issued over 4,400 “U” visas, temporary non-immigrant visas for victims of rape, violence, domestic violence and sex trafficking. Only 52 “U” visas were issued last year, and AP asserts that the Obama administration’s new priorities of federal immigration are responsible for the dramatic increase. The “U” Visa program was created in 2000 but delayed until rules for implementation were adopted in 2007. 10,000 “U” visas are available per fiscal year, and over 13,000 …
