by El Reportero’s news services
Pepe Aguilar
Mexican artist Pepe Aguilar received the prestigious Grammy Award for his thorough celebration of 200 years of Mexican music entitled Bicentenario. This praised record was honored by The Recording Academy as the best album in its genre, conquering the category of Best Regional Mexican or Tejano Album.
“My family is still jumping around!”, Aguilar posted on Twitter. “More than for me this prize goes for Mexican music. Long lives Mariachi!”
The 54th annual Grammy® Awards took place on February 12 in Los Angeles, California.
Movie director Chris Weitz and José Antonio Vargas talk about Alabama’s H.B. 56 on film
Wednesday, February 15, the praised director Chris Weitz (A Better Life, The Golden Compass, About A Boy) released a new series of cinematographic videos that will putt he lense on Alabama’s immigration law H.B. 56. The Center for American Progress will also publish the report “El desastre de inmigración de Alabama: la ley más extrema del país daña a la economía y sociedad del estado” by journalist Tom Baxter, who explores more in depth the way that HB 56 is destroying the fabric of society and Alabama’s economy.
The undocumented journalist and Pulitzer laureate, José Antonio Vargas, who has spent a significant amount of time in Alabama extending the stories of the state’s immigrants, will moderate the discussion around the movie, the report and the law’s effects.
On July 9th 2011, Alabama passed the law H.B. 56 – the most extreme anti-immigrant law passed until now at state level. This bill was designed to make all the aspects of life unbearably difficult for undocumented immigrants who live in Alabama and spreads fear as a weapon to marginalize and oppress the unwanted population, just like segregationists policies from 50 years ago.
Nine months have passed since the passing of the law and its damage is still very tangible – generating fear among families who are also afraid of sending their children to school and that may turned into economic losses for the state from up to $10.8 billion.
Joining the voices that oppose H.B. 56 that already includes civil right, religious, business and education leaders in a remarkable new voice– it’s Hollywood.
The Center for American Progress, together with America’s Voice Educational Fund and Define American, invites you to take a deep look to the consequences of this extreme law.
