anniversary | Not in Our Town

anniversary

NIOT Marchers (Photo Credit: Michael Matejka) Hundreds of Bloomington-Normal residents gathered outside the old courthouse to remember and renew 20 years of grass-roots action to address racism and bigotry. On June 28th, the street festival featured local student performances, a march, screenprinting, speakers, and a participatory dance experience, all to celebrate diversity. Check back for NIOT video story on the event.
This weekend, our film crew will join the Oak Creek, WI community as they gather to remember those lost in the fatal shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin on Aug. 5, 2012. On Saturday, we will be at the Chardi Kala 6K Memorial Run: Walk: Turning Tragedy into Triumph. We join others at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin for prayers and tributes to the departed souls on Sunday and for the community candlelight vigil on Monday. As we depart for Wisconsin for the one-year anniversary, we leave you with this video poem from the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin. Please watch, share and remember. Please help us make this country safe and inclusive for all.   We Are Sikhs - a Poem from the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin from Amardeep Kaleka on Vimeo.
A slow and beautiful melody streams from Robert Bruey’s acoustic guitar as he steps up to the microphone. He clears his throat, and addresses the mourning crowd surrounding him.    “I wrote this song after I heard about this [...] historical inaccuracy,” said the Long Island musician in a somber tone. “Marcelo didn’t run.”    Clear and full of warmth, Bruey’s earthy voice transcends the silence at the vigil held on this biting cold November afternoon.   Robert Bruey performs "Perdoname Hermano" at vigil on November 7, 2010, two years after Marcelo Lucero's death.   
Patchogue, NY: In the wake of the murder of Marcelo Lucero and other anti-immigrant violence on Long Island, many community members are using the arts and media to spread messages of hope and unity. Others are using faith-based means to discuss difference, examine questions around immigration, and build inclusive communities. November 8 marks the one year anniversary of the hate crime killing of Marcelo Lucero in Patchogue, NY.  The family of Marcelo Lucero and the people of Patchogue and Suffolk County, NY are planning a series of events. Next Saturday Nov. 7th a Community Vigil will be held at the site where Marcelo Lucero was brutally slain on Nov. 8, 2008. Marcelo's family will be present. Participants have been asked to wear white t-shirts.