1 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: Hey, what's up? Family, Latino USA is coming to Los Angeles. 2 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,480 Speaker 1: We're having a live show on Sunday, June twenty sixth 3 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 1: at the Theater at the Ace Hotel, and we want 4 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 1: you to take center stage. 5 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 2: So here's what we're. 6 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: Asking our dear listeners, who are Angelino's what do you 7 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:27,479 Speaker 1: love about your city? What's your favorite spot? What makes 8 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: La such a special place for Latinos and Latinas and latinx. 9 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: Call us at six four six five seven one one 10 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 1: two two four. That's six four six five seven to 11 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 1: one one to two four and leave us your message 12 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:46,239 Speaker 1: and we might play your call on stage at our 13 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,199 Speaker 1: live show. Also, why don't you join us in person? 14 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: The show is part of kpcc's Public Radio Polusa. You 15 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 1: can buy your tickets at kpcc dot org slash plusa 16 00:00:56,040 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: that's kpcc dot org slash BELUSA. Can wait to hear 17 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: your love notes to Los Angeles. Miss Getty do Si 18 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: Getty's he knows remos bronto la not. 19 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 3: De v Yes. 20 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 2: A lot of people think like you're either on one side 21 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 2: or the other, or that it's not possible to be 22 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 2: religious but also fight for a choice. But we really 23 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 2: wanted to show people who kind of complicated that idea 24 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 2: and try to reach people who might be religious or 25 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 2: might have been raised religious and don't know how they 26 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:28,759 Speaker 2: feel about abortion. 27 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:36,959 Speaker 1: From Fudura Media and PRX, It's Latino USA. I'm Marie 28 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 1: jo Josa today on the Divide, the making of a 29 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: film about the last abortion provider in the Rio Grande Valley. 30 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 1: As a cinematographer, Leah Gallant is always conscious of light 31 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: and the sunsets in the Rio grand right at the 32 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 1: Texas US Mexico border. Those sunsets have stayed with her. 33 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:10,799 Speaker 4: People often refer to the Rio grand Valley gradient, which 34 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,119 Speaker 4: is when the sun sets and you see these lou 35 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 4: hues and orange shoes and red hues that you don't 36 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:18,239 Speaker 4: really see anywhere else in the country. 37 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: Leah went to the valley for the first time in 38 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: twenty fourteen while filming The Provider, a short documentary about 39 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 1: a doctor who travels to perform abortions across Texas. 40 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:34,640 Speaker 5: The work that I do is necessary, it's needed, so 41 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 5: why not talk about it? Because it's gone on for centuries, 42 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 5: it's going to continue to go on, and all we 43 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 5: do is keep stuffing it under the rug. 44 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 2: Leah and I were actually in a class together. 45 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: This is Maya Quiva who met Leah while studying at 46 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: Ithaca College in upstate New York. Maya and Leah co 47 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: directed the provider. 48 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 2: During this time was when HB two was in effect 49 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 2: House Built two in Texas, which was a very restrictive 50 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:10,079 Speaker 2: abortion law that effectively closed down abortion clinics throughout Texas. 51 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 1: But organizers fought back. Soon a federal judge blocked a 52 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:30,239 Speaker 1: few key provisions of the rule, and the Whole Woman's 53 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: Health Clinic in McCowan, the only abortion provider in the 54 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: Rio Grande Valley, reopened. Leah credits the community's perseverance. 55 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 4: It's a thriving community and there's a lot of incredible 56 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 4: organizing work that's being done there despite being a very 57 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 4: militarized location. 58 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: Eventually, the US Supreme Court struck down the entire bill 59 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: and the Whole Woman's Health Clinic was able to keep 60 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 1: serving the more than one million people in the Rio 61 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: Grande Valley. But Maya and Leah knew the story wasn't over. 62 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: What started as a school project turned into something more. 63 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 2: We really wanted to create a film that focused on 64 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,599 Speaker 2: this community that only had one clinic in McAllen, Texas. 65 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 2: We really felt that the stories on the border were 66 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 2: not being shared. 67 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: And the stakes were high. If this clinic permanently shut down, 68 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 1: people seeking an abortion would need to travel to San Antonio, 69 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: more than two hundred miles away. 70 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 4: If anyone's driven from San Antonio to McAllen or the 71 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 4: Rio Grand Valley, you know that there's a really long 72 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 4: stretch of road that's quite gorgeous, but there's a lot 73 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 4: of border checkpoints. So the undocumented population living in the 74 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 4: Rio Grand Valley is not going to want to risk 75 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 4: deportation to go to that nearest clinic. 76 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: They set out follow people's lives in McAllen over the 77 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 1: course of several years. As outsiders. They knew that they 78 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:11,039 Speaker 1: first needed to build trust and a relationship with the community. 79 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 1: Here's Maya again. 80 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 2: This film took seven years to make. It was many 81 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 2: different films at one point, but really what drove us 82 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:22,359 Speaker 2: to finish the film and to make the film is 83 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 2: because of the people that we met along the way. 84 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 1: On The Divide premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 85 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: September of twenty twenty one, and it's only become more 86 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: relevant as they've started showing the film across the country. 87 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 2: I think that McCallan can really represent the United States 88 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 2: in a lot of ways and how people have to 89 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 2: contend with restricted access. 90 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: In this episode, Leah and Maya talk about the long 91 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 1: journey to capturing a community story and also how making 92 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: this film changed their lives. Here are filmmakers Leah Glenn 93 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: and my Equiva in their own words. 94 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 4: Hi, I'm Leah Gollant and I'm one of the co 95 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 4: directors of On the Divide and I'm a filmmaker right now. 96 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 4: I'm living in Berlin. 97 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:13,359 Speaker 2: My name is Maya Queva. I'm the co director of 98 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 2: On the Divide. I'm from Berkeley, California, and I'm currently 99 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 2: based here as a Latina filmmaker, I felt really compelled 100 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:23,599 Speaker 2: to tell the story of reproductive healthcare and how that 101 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 2: intersects with Latini dad. I feel that there's a lot 102 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 2: of stories about abortion that don't always often center black 103 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 2: of brown voices, and it was really important for me 104 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 2: to share the stories of people who know you don't 105 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 2: often hear from, who are really on the front lines 106 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 2: of this movement. 107 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 4: We thought, especially on this very divisive issue. By sharing 108 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 4: the perspectives of the three people that we chose. We 109 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 4: knew that we could open up the conversation and expand 110 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 4: what people think when they think about who has a 111 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 4: stake in reproductive justice. 112 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 2: We really wanted to share stories of everyday people, every 113 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 2: day Latine, Latinos, LATINX who have to deal with restricted 114 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 2: access in their everyday lives, and also show how religion 115 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 2: is a part of this as well. 116 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 3: You're blend in the interest, You're in the yellow way, 117 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 3: but nothing the interest. 118 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 4: You can block the ely way somewhere else. 119 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,240 Speaker 2: One of those people was Ray, who is a security 120 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 2: guard at the clinic. 121 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 3: What I see here sometimes they cross the line. I 122 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 3: see it every day. People come here to inslve these 123 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:32,239 Speaker 3: girls and make it worse. 124 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 2: He was religious his whole life until he started working 125 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 2: at the clinic and really started to feel that it 126 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 2: was his duty to protect the patients that were coming in. 127 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 3: I'm a Catholic. How come they threw me out of 128 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 3: the church Since I was seven or eight years old. 129 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 3: I've been going to the church. Now I can't go there. 130 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 2: There is a scene in the film where we actually 131 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 2: go in film with him outside at a shrine. He 132 00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 2: has to go to because he's no longer allowed inside 133 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 2: of the church in his community. 134 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 3: When you come here at least five or ten minutes, 135 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 3: you'll feel better. 136 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 2: And you see him praying for the clinic escorts who 137 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 2: he works alongside. 138 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 3: Protect my girls, escorts and patience that goes to the clinic, 139 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 3: please for me and my family. 140 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:22,640 Speaker 6: Thank you. 141 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 2: Here's a person who is religious, who's Catholic, but understands 142 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 2: why abortion access is important. Then we met Mercedes about 143 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 2: a year later, and we're really compelled by her story 144 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 2: as well, because you know, she is someone who actually 145 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 2: went to the clinics to get an abortion, but was 146 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 2: convinced not to by an anti abortion protester. 147 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:49,079 Speaker 6: I'm a prayer warrior first and foremost. I pray my 148 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 6: rosary outside the clinic. 149 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 2: Mercedes is more of a complicated character. 150 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 6: If you would have looked at me in my own life, 151 00:08:56,480 --> 00:09:01,199 Speaker 6: you wouldn't have thought anything good right the gang because 152 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 6: they traded me like family and stuff. And now that 153 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 6: I have Jesus in my life, I see the light. 154 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 6: I'm not in a dark place anymore. 155 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:14,319 Speaker 2: She was really searching for belonging and ended up finding 156 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:18,679 Speaker 2: that in the pro life religious movement, but a number 157 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 2: of things happen that actually transform her views. We ended 158 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 2: up meeting Denise, who is the clinic escort. 159 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 7: I started volunteering with South Texans Very Productive Justice four 160 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 7: years ago. 161 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 2: She's helping patients walk safely in and out of the clinic. 162 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:37,959 Speaker 8: Just capturing that what keeps us going is that, well, 163 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 8: this is what the patients have to face, and they 164 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 8: should not face as alone. 165 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 5: Yeah we'll shut this place down. 166 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 7: I'll get every Christian in the valady come over here, 167 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 7: stand in front and block these doors. 168 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 4: Be longa way. 169 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 2: And she's a mother of four, but she's someone who's 170 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 2: really interesting because you know, she's a mother but still 171 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 2: is very pro abortion and pro choice. 172 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 4: All three of our protagonists have a sense of either 173 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 4: religion or spirituality that sort of exists outside of this 174 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 4: issue of abortion being so polarizing. It was just really 175 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 4: beautiful to see people that were kind of creating their 176 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 4: own forms of existing in a space that, again was 177 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 4: created to divide, which is why we named the film 178 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 4: on the Divide. 179 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 2: A lot of people think like you're either on one 180 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 2: side or the other, or that it's not possible to 181 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 2: be religious but also fight for choice. But we really 182 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 2: wanted to show people who kind of complicated that idea 183 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 2: and try to reach people who might be religious or 184 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:35,560 Speaker 2: might have been raised religious and don't know how they 185 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 2: feel about abortion. We wanted to be able to reach 186 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 2: them and let them know that they can be a 187 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 2: part of this conversation. 188 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 4: Mayaan and I started filming this when we were twenty 189 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:49,559 Speaker 4: twenty one years old, and at the time, since this 190 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:53,120 Speaker 4: was both of our first feature length films, we didn't 191 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:57,680 Speaker 4: have the resources to go into full production, so we 192 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:01,200 Speaker 4: would make trips as much as we could with money 193 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 4: we had either earned from jobs or saved up, and 194 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 4: then from our generous friends and family who donated to 195 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 4: our crowd funding campaigns along the way, and then when 196 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 4: we got a little bit of funds, we would go 197 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 4: down and film and then continue coming as often as 198 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:16,359 Speaker 4: we can. Over the course of seven. 199 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 2: Years, it was really just the two of us most 200 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:22,440 Speaker 2: of the time, going to McAllen and filming. A couple 201 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,959 Speaker 2: of weeks before we started filming, I actually found out 202 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 2: that I was pregnant and I had to get an 203 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:33,439 Speaker 2: abortion three days before going to McAllen and filming, and I, 204 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 2: you know, was really still healing as we went to 205 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 2: McAllen and film there, and it really just made this 206 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:46,440 Speaker 2: such a personal journey for me as well. I had 207 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:50,560 Speaker 2: to witness protesters outside of the clinic yell at patients 208 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 2: walking in you know, don't kill your baby, heard different 209 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:57,840 Speaker 2: people say things like abortion can ruin your body, and 210 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 2: I just had to keep like a straight face throughout 211 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 2: the process. But I think what really helped me was 212 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:08,320 Speaker 2: hearing from the organizers and listening to patients. 213 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:17,240 Speaker 4: We really had to make sure that this trust building 214 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 4: that we made with the community took a few years 215 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:22,319 Speaker 4: and a few trips just so that we can understand 216 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 4: the best way to tell the story. 217 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:27,480 Speaker 2: The organizers and the clinic workers that we met, all 218 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 2: of them kind of said the same thing. No reporters 219 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 2: who had ever come in had ever asked them, you know, 220 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:35,560 Speaker 2: what are stories you want to see or stories you 221 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:38,440 Speaker 2: want to be shared? And I think that that's what 222 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 2: really helped us be able to build trust within the community, 223 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:44,440 Speaker 2: because you know, LEEH and I are not experts of 224 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 2: this community at all, and we wanted to make sure 225 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 2: that they felt that they had a voice within this 226 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 2: film and that we were really collaborating with them as 227 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 2: much as possible throughout the way. 228 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:58,840 Speaker 4: We witnessed these political moments such as the Trump election. 229 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 9: Like what I'm asked, can you her, is do you 230 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 9: want to see the court overturned? 231 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 3: Rightly? 232 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 2: If we put another two or perhaps three justices zone, 233 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 2: that's really what's going to be had. That will happen. 234 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 4: We witnessed when the detention centers were in the news 235 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:14,720 Speaker 4: because they were detaining migrant children. 236 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:18,440 Speaker 3: If you're smuggling a child, then we're going to prosecute you, 237 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 3: and that child will be separated from you, probably as 238 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 3: required by law. 239 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,640 Speaker 4: We witnessed the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh. 240 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:30,120 Speaker 7: I am here today not because I want to be 241 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,560 Speaker 7: I am terrified. I am here because I believe it 242 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 7: is my civic duty to tell you what happened to 243 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 7: me while Brett Cavanah and I were in high school. 244 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:42,760 Speaker 4: And then the reelection of Ted Cruz. 245 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:47,200 Speaker 1: I believe that every human life is a gift from God. 246 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 4: That happened in twenty eighteen, the reelection of Ted Cruz, 247 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 4: which appears in our film. 248 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 10: We have Ted Cruz coming to our Fourth of July parade, 249 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 10: so we thought it was a perfect opportunity to show 250 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 10: that yes, your four worth of July. But there's a 251 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 10: lot of things that you're doing that hurt our community. 252 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 4: And it felt as if while it was difficult to 253 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 4: have reproductive access already, these political blows kind of felt 254 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 4: like a nail in the coffin. But despite that, organizers 255 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 4: never caved in, never gave up, and it almost felt 256 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 4: like nobody was listening to them, which is definitely frustrating 257 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 4: as we get to this moment with Roe v. Wade 258 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 4: where it's going to be overturned, But the organizers that 259 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 4: we were filming with this entire period had been sounding 260 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 4: the alarm. So for us, it was really important to 261 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 4: make sure that these organizers and these clinics were centered, 262 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 4: because unfortunately they haven't been. 263 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 7: They were all very angry, which is good because it's 264 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 7: anger that moves us. It's anger that gets things going 265 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:53,080 Speaker 7: and get things changing. 266 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 2: After filming in this area for so long, we saw 267 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 2: that religion was such a an important part of people's lives, 268 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 2: and so many people were kind of letting religious values 269 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 2: drive the way that they vote. But it wasn't necessarily 270 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 2: religion that's driving people to vote these certain ways. It's 271 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:20,360 Speaker 2: often manipulative tactics. It's often politicians that might be trying 272 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 2: to manipulate their voter base just to vote for them 273 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 2: and just to gain power. So we really wanted people 274 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 2: to understand that, you know, it's possible to complicate these issues, 275 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 2: and just because you're religious doesn't mean you can't be 276 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 2: pro choice or be pro abortion. 277 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 4: We had a lot of typical moments, to put it lightly, 278 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 4: and I think we both sort of helped each other 279 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:45,040 Speaker 4: get through those moments, and that was why the film 280 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 4: kept going. When one of us was feeling dejected and 281 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:52,239 Speaker 4: frustrated from a plethora of things, whether it be politically 282 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 4: or you know, lack of support financially, the other would 283 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 4: step in. 284 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 2: As to young women filmmakers, I will say that, yes, 285 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 2: it was beneficial for us to be able to film 286 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 2: for so long in this area and to build trust, 287 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 2: but at the same time, it should never have taken 288 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 2: us seven years to create this film, and partly that 289 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 2: was because of lack of funding. As hard as women 290 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 2: directors to often get that same kind of backing and 291 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 2: financial backing, I. 292 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 4: Think most documentary filmmakers have this stalma of when to 293 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 4: stop filming, especially when unfortunately, like politically speaking, things just 294 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 4: continued to happen and get worse. 295 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 9: The majority of abortions in Texas are now banned after 296 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 9: the Supreme Court did not rule on an emergency appeal 297 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 9: to keep a new law from taking effect. This is 298 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 9: one of the strictest bands on abortion in the country, 299 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 9: and it bans abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy. 300 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 9: That is, before most women even know that they are pregnant. 301 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 2: We're just seeing a number of restrictions continuing to happen 302 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 2: around abortion, and so we really felt that this was 303 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 2: the time, and the story is very urgent and people 304 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 2: need to see the story now. And we never could 305 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:09,160 Speaker 2: have imagined that this would be released and the Supreme 306 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 2: Court league would happen, and we're now seeing that Roe v. 307 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 2: Wade may be stripped away. 308 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 4: When we did finally share it with everyone a few 309 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 4: weeks ago, we were there with other reproductive rights and 310 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:30,960 Speaker 4: abortion access organizations that were there tabling, like the Latina 311 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 4: Institute and La Frontera Fund and of course South Texans 312 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 4: Reproductive Justice. They're all now are impact partners, so they're 313 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 4: all going to use this film in their communities in 314 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:43,680 Speaker 4: the way that they see is best fit. 315 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:46,639 Speaker 2: An organization that we're really proud to partner with in 316 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:49,679 Speaker 2: our impact campaign is Catholics for Choice, which is an 317 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 2: incredible organization that is a religious organization but is also 318 00:17:55,040 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 2: pro abortion and pro choice. As president of Catholics for Choice, 319 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 2: I represent the sixty hey percent of Catholics who do 320 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:09,160 Speaker 2: not want to see row overturn. And something that they 321 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:13,080 Speaker 2: say that's really interesting is they say that reproductive justice 322 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 2: is actually a Catholic value. 323 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 5: I support abortion access because of my faith, not in 324 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 5: spite of it. 325 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:26,280 Speaker 2: One of the questions that we really thought about once 326 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 2: we were filming and then once we were done with filming, 327 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:32,639 Speaker 2: was what does choice mean when you don't have many options? 328 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,880 Speaker 2: And for Rey and Mercedes and Denise and many people 329 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 2: in the Rio Grande Valley, that's the reality. There aren't 330 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:43,399 Speaker 2: many options around getting access to reproductive healthcare or getting 331 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:47,919 Speaker 2: access to seeing a doctor. In general, these anti choice 332 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:52,960 Speaker 2: laws directly impact for communities of color the most. And 333 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 2: I believe that these laws are. 334 00:18:56,400 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 4: Rooted in racism and sexism and homophobia, and they are 335 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 4: not rooted in protecting life. Seeing how clear these laws 336 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 4: connected to white supremacy really at the end of the 337 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 4: day is what I think was the most illuminating for me. 338 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:19,359 Speaker 2: I think right now, it's just so important to support 339 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 2: these organizers that have been on the ground, that have 340 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 2: been doing this really important work that people often overlook 341 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 2: because unfortunately, what we're seeing now is that the courts 342 00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:32,440 Speaker 2: will not protect us. So it's really up to community 343 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 2: building and community organizing to get the proper access to 344 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 2: abortions that we all need. 345 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 1: This episode was produced by Victoria Strada and edited by 346 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 1: Daisy Contreras, who was mixed by Julia Caruso. The Latino 347 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:25,439 Speaker 1: USA team includes Andrea Lopez Grusado, Marta Martinez, Mike Sargent, 348 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:30,920 Speaker 1: Julia Ta Martinelli, Rinaldo Leios, Junior, Alejandra Saasa, Patricia Sulvanan 349 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:34,680 Speaker 1: and Julia Rocha, with help from Raoul Perez. Our editorial 350 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:38,280 Speaker 1: director is Julio Ricardo Barella. Our director of engineering is 351 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:42,560 Speaker 1: Definitely Lebau. Our associate engineers are Gabriel Lebias and jj Carubin. 352 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:46,240 Speaker 1: Our marketing manager is Luis Luna. Our theme music was 353 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: composed by Jean Ronos. I'm your host and executive producer 354 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:52,080 Speaker 1: Maria Jojosa. Join us again on our next episode. In 355 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 1: the meantime, look for us on all of your social 356 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: media and remember not deevayas Ciao. 357 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:03,240 Speaker 8: Latino US is made possible in part by New York 358 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 8: Women's Foundation. The New York Women's Foundation, funding women leaders 359 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 8: that build solutions in their communities and celebrating thirty years 360 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:17,199 Speaker 8: of radical generosity, the Ford Foundation, working with visionaries on 361 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:21,919 Speaker 8: the front lines of social change worldwide, and funding for 362 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:25,159 Speaker 8: Latino USA is. Coverage of a culture of health is 363 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 8: made possible in part by a grant from the Robert 364 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 8: Wood Johnson Foundation. 365 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 4: I would just say we recently say there's toddlers upstairs 366 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:38,440 Speaker 4: who wake me up at seven in the morning.