THE LONG RIDE
PFW awarded a grant to Valerie Lapin Ganley a documentary filmmaker who is both the Producer and Director of the film The Long Ride. This film is about the new Civil Rights Movement for Immigrant Workers. Immigration is one of the most contentious and talked about issues. The origin of immigration reform can be traced back to 2003 to the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride, being the first large-scale public action in support of the four major objectives of the reform movement: (1) a pathway to citizenship, (2) family reunification, (3) protection of workers rights regardless of legal status, and(4) civil rights for all. The Long Ride follows 106 riders from Northern California during their cross country journey where the confronted Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. They were joined by Civil Rights and Freedom Rider, Congressman John Lewis. The ride culminated in a 100,000-person immigrant rights rally in Washington D.C. The film shares personal stories and how these riders found strength in being part of a collective action. The grant will be used in finishing this bi-lingual documentary and will be a useful teaching tool for examining civil and immigrant rights and history.
