Consciousness Raising Theater from Mexico

“La Casa Rosa” tells the story of the necessity and difficulty of finding a way forward for every community impacted by free trade and migration. Drawing inspiration from the real lives and experiences of a group of women from the town of Tetlanohcan, Mexico, the play is the tale of two sisters struggling for control of their ancestral land and for the realization of their very distinct definitions of development and visions for the future of their world. How do we protect what matters? How do we address a system that seems intent on limiting our options? How do we find common ground and a better quality of life?

PRESS RELEASE

APRIL, 2010

DAY OF SOLIDARITY FOR THE FAMILIES WITHOUT BORDERS TOUR

MARCH 30th, UCONN (Storrs, Connecticut)

APRIL 8th, The Brecht Forum (New York City)

April 10th, Fairhaven Public Library, (New Haven, CT)

On March 8 the group Soame Citlalime of Tetlanohcan, Mexico went to the US embassy in Mexico City to apply for a temporary visitor’s visa to present their original play “La Casa Rosa” as part of their “Families Without Borders” tour, which was sponsored by educational institutions, cultural organizations and theaters in New York and Connecticut. The play is the result of a year of political organizing by the citizens of this small village and sends a powerful message about confronting the forces at work in their community and the steps we all need to take in finally ending undocumented migration to the United States. Despite ample documentation of the project and letters of invitation from city officials, community leaders and faculty from several universities, the application was denied for all 30 members of the group without grounds or explanation.

IIPSOCULTA U.S. and Carlton Industries, in partnership with sponsoring organizations, are announcing a day of action to support the appeal of this unjust decision. Concerned citizens from all over the city will gather to watch a brief documentary on the history, process and struggle of the project, observe a minute of silence on the stage where the play would have been presented, engage in a dialogue about immigration and trade practices, and participate in a direct action to pressure the government to overturn the decision.

What are the forces that cause undocumented migration?

Who really benefits from a militarized border?

How do we ensure security and justice for ourselves and our neighbors?

Show your support for honest dialogue, transparent government and end to this humanitarian crisis. They can militarize our border, but they can’t silence our voices.