Compiled by the El Reportero’s staff
Nicaraguan Human Rights Advocates from The Movimiento Campesino de Nicaragua will be visiting the San Francisco Bay Area on their way to The Human Rights Conference at the Organization of the Americas (OAS) to inform and update the community about the human rights crisis in Nicaragua.
The leaders of the Movimiento Campesino de Nicaragua have been on the upfront of the resistance movement for more than seven years in opposition to law 840, which mandates the appropriation of farmworkers and indigenous lands for the construction of an interoceanic canal.
During the civil uprising of April 2018, the Movimiento Campesino supported the protests and many of its leaders were illegally arrested and sentenced to 256 years in prison but were recently released under an amnesty for crimes they never committed. At the moment the national leader of the movement is Medardo Mairena, who himself was sentenced to 256 years for his political involvement against the regime of Daniel Ortega.
After a press conference on Thursday, Sept. 12, a memorial mass (in memory of the victims of the regime’s violence) will take place at 6 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m.- cultural event and a forum and photo exhibition on the actuality of the Nicaraguan Human Rights crisis. Translation will be provided. The event will take place at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 3215 Cesar Chavez, SF.
Medardo Mairena, National Leader of the Movimiento Campesino de Nicaragua will be the keynote speaker at a protest/demonstration on Friday, Sept. 13 at 5:30 p.m., at the corner of 24th and Mission Streets.
The John Santos Sextet at the Mitchell Park Community Center
Afro-Cuban-Puerto Rican cultural music activist, John Santos, will be performing with Giovanni Hidalgo and the special presentation of saxophonist Melecio Magdaluyo.
John is known as a keeper of the Afro-Caribbean flame steeped in Cuban and Puerto Rican folkloric traditions as well as salsa and Latin jazz. Born and raised in San Francisco’s Mission District amidst an extended family of Puerto Rican musicians, he’s been at the center of the Bay Area’s Latin music scene for nearly four decades, and was one of SFJAZZ’s first four Resident Artistic Directors in 2013.
On Sept. 13, from 8 to 10:30 p.m., at Mitchell Park Community Center, 3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, Calif. For more info call 650-305-0701.
This is an event organized by Earthwise.
Cine Latino brings the best in Latino films on 2019
In just a couple of weeks Cine+Mas SF presents the 11th San Francisco Latino Film Festival with over 90 films including shorts, features, and documentaries. There are 12 documentary features, 14 narrative features, and nine shorts programs to choose from. Most features are San Francisco premieres with a few US and West Coast premieres in the mix.
Most films only screen once. Screenings take place at the Alamo Drafthouse, the Opera Plaza Theaters and the Roxie Theater where we will be opening. Additional screenings at the ATA and Eastside Cultural Center.
A beautiful biopic about Carlos Acosta, a legendary ballet dancer from Cuba who became the first black principal dancer with the Royal Ballet of London. The film is directed by Catalan filmmaker Iciar Bollain (Event The Rain, The Olive Tree).
The 11th San Francisco Latino Film Festival presented by Cine+Mas SF runs from Sept. 20-29. Opening Night at Roxie Theater.
Environmental film section, guest filmmakers at most screenings- feature docs and shorts. Premieres with filmmakers in town: Tattoo of Revenge, Quinceañera, Bathroom Stalls & Parking Lots, Bring Me an Avocado; Carlos Almaraz Playing with Fire (Richard Montoya, director).
Provocative documentaries; Decade of Fire– when local government plays a role in gentrification; Councilwoman– in the year of the woman see a Dominican immigrant, hotel housekeeper run for political office; a profile on Carlos Almaraz – prolific Mexican-American artist made a mark on the art world and put a spotlight on Chicano art.
Fun documentaries like Amigo, Skate and Santa Lives in My Town. Skateboarding in Cuba and guys that make a living as Santa Claus in Argentina.
Sept. 20-27 Roxie Theater
Sept. 20-22 at ATA.
Sept. 20 Opening Night Party at Amado’s 998 (Valencia & 21st St.)
Sept. 21 at Alamo Drafthouse
Sept. 24 at Opera Plaza Cinemas
Sept. 28 Eastside Cultural Center (Oakland)
Sept. 29 Closing Night Party (TBD).
