Our Picks for Indie Grits 2019

13th Annual
INDIE GRITS FESTIVAL 2019
THURSDAY March 28th-SUNDAY March 31st
Columbia, SC
Indie Grits is a 4-day event celebrating the visionary and experimental culture of the Southeast through film, art, music, and bits in Columbia, SC. In partnership with the Nickelodeon Theatre. Festival passes are available or tickets for films can be bought individually.  #IndieGrits2019

Carolina Peace’s Indie Grits Picks for 2019…

THE UNAFRAID
THURSDAY March 28th, 4PM
Nickelodeon Theatre
1607 Main St. Columbia, SC 29201
Shot over a period of four years, this observational documentary feature follows Alejandro, Silvia, and Aldo, three DACA recipients for whom attending college in their home state of Georgia is all but impossible, given the government’s refusal to grant them entry or offer in-state tuition. Rather than giving in, the three students deftly navigate the political maelstrom that surrounds them, not only fighting for their own rights but for the rights of their families and their communities as well. Film by Heather Courtney & Anayansi Prado, Los Angeles, CA. Running time: 87 min.
$6 Student/ $8 Nick Member/ $11 General Admission
More info/Reserve Tickets:
http://indiegrits.org/festival/film/features/the-unafraid/

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RESILIENCE Short Films Block
FRIDAY March 29th 1:30PM
SATURDAY March 30th 7PM
Nickelodeon Theatre
1607 Main St. Columbia, SC 29201
The figures that populate these documentary shorts refuse to be confined, or defined, by their oppression. If anything, the challenges they’ve faced are an opportunity. An opportunity to embrace, without reservation, who they are and what they believe. Gun control advocates, sanctuary-seekers, the wrongfully imprisoned: these courageous individuals mine painful pasts and contemplate uncertain futures, but remain steadfast in their resolve to resist at any cost.
$6 Student/ $8 Nick Member/ $11 General Admission
More about the shorts/ Reserve Tickets:
http://indiegrits.org/festival/film/shorts/resilience/

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LUMPKIN, GA
FRIDAY March 29th 6:30PM
This timely documentary feature–a lyrical exploration of indifference and isolation in today’s divided political climate–zeroes in on a poverty-stricken community in rural Georgia that plays host to one of America’s largest immigrant detention centers.
Screened with Walker’s (12 min) and Uniontown (16 min)
More info/Reserve Tickets:
http://indiegrits.org/festival/film/features/lumpkin-ga/

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AMERICA FIRST: THE LEGACY OF AN IMMIGRATION RAID
SATURDAY March 30th 1PM
Nickelodeon Theatre
1607 Main St. Columbia, SC 29201
It’s been a decade since Postville, Iowa suffered the largest immigration raid at a worksite in US history–389 immigrants were arrested in the biggest kosher meatpacking plant in the country. This documentary feature sheds light on the repercussions of such massive raids. America First marks the return of Indie Grits alum Andrea Patiño Contreras to this year’s festival. Film by Andrea Patiño Contreras & Almudena Toral, Miami, FL. Running Time 39 min. Screened with Gutk’odau (Yellow) (8 min) and A Line Birds Cannot See (9 min).
$6 Student/ $8 Nick Member/ $11 General Admission
http://indiegrits.org/festival/film/features/america-first-the-legacy-of-an-immigration-raid/

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SILENCE SAM (FINE CUT SCREENING)
SATURDAY March 30th 3PM
Richland Library, 2nd Floor Theatre
1431 Assembly St Columbia, SC 29201
Since its dedication in 1913, students, staff, faculty, and community members at UNC have advocated for the removal of Confederate monument Silent Sam, standing at the entrance of campus. Silence Sam, a documentary short produced by students of UNC’s School of Media and Journalism, follows the most recent student-led movement to remove the statue, as well as their silencing by university administrators. Jeremiah Rhodes & Courtney Staton, Chapel Hill, NC. Running time: 40 min. Followed by free Impact Producer Workshop.
FREE SCREENING.
More Info: http://indiegrits.org/silence-sam/

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JADDOLAND
SUNDAY March 312st 3PM
Nickelodeon Theatre
1607 Main St. Columbia, SC 29201
In this vivid, wistful documentary portrait, filmmaker Nadia Shihab returns to her hometown in the Texas panhandle to visit her mother, an artist from Iraq; her mother’s increasingly isolated life–and dynamic creative process–become the object of her attention. Soon, Shihab’s grandfather arrives from Iraq, prompting a deeper engagement with questions of place, migration, and the spaces we call home. Documentary Film by Nadia Shihab, Oakland, CA. Running Time: 90 min.
$6 Student/ $8 Nick Member/ $11 General Admission
More Info/Reserve Ticket:
http://indiegrits.org/festival/film/features/jaddoland/

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Commemoration of Hiroshima & Nagasaki, Sun, Aug 6, Columbia, SC

Join us next Sunday August 6th in remembering #Hiroshima and renewing our commitment to work toward a more peaceful world where nuclear weapons will never be used again. Featuring music, poetry, dance, and children’s activities including making origami peace cranes. 2:30pm-4:30pm at Edventure’s Canal Room, 211 Gervais St. FREE.
Sponsored by Carolina Peace and the Columbia Friends Meeting (Quakers)
More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/204584853388254/

Bill Attacking Free Speech on Palestine/Israel Now in SC Senate

SC State Rep. Alan Clemmons recently smeared the liberal Jewish peace group J Street as “anti-Semitic”, an extreme opinion that was widely panned.  But the SC House recently passed a bill sponsored Clemmons that would enshrine the same kind of smear tactics into SC law.  H.3643  invokes a controversial and vague State Department definition of anti-semitism to smear and  silence legitimate criticism of the state of Israel on campuses in South Carolina.  Language in the bill referencing a “What is Anti-Semitism Relative to Israel?” fact sheet is a direct attack on First Amendment protected political speech and intentionally blurs the line to conflate and equate legitimate viewpoints on Palestine/Israel with anti-Semitism, a backdoor form of censorship.  We’ve challenged the bill in both House and Senate subcommittees; both mostly ignored our concerns and rubber stamped the bill without discussion.  However, the bill was blocked in the last session by Senator Brad Hutto.  Now there is a rush now to get the bill passed with the new session in January of 2018.

TAKE ACTION: 

Thousands gather at Jan. 21 “Stand Up” rally

Thousands of South Carolinians of all ages, genders and races joined together at Columbia’s State House and Music Farm concert venue with millions of others worldwide to rally for women’s rights and other causes on Jan. 21, one day after the inauguration of now-President Donald Trump.

The rally was in partnership with the Women’s March on Washington
D.C., and was also part of the South Carolina Progressive Network (SCPN) Stand Up Rally. The event advocated for progress in a number of social justice areas, and attendees were encouraged to be engaged and become involved in making this progress happen.

Civil rights elder preserves S.C. history

Cecil Williams stands in front of his home studio in Orangeburg, S.C. in October, 2016.

In elementary school, Cecil Williams photographed lawyer Thurgood Marshall’s early efforts to desegregate public schools. In high school, he documented the ‘60s civil rights sit-ins. As a young adult, he covered Harvey Gantt’s 1964 desegregation of Clemson University, the aftermath of the 1968 Orangeburg Massacre and the 1969 strike by Charleston hospital workers.

“The saying goes: A picture is worth a thousand words. But no. I say a good picture, a storytelling picture is worth a thousand words,” said Cecil Williams, a 78-year-old civil rights photographer.

Photos from January 15 “Rally for Affordable Health Care”

On January 15, 2017, people rallied to support affordable health care for all. Here are some pictures from Paul Palmer and Lisa Roberts.

Pictures from “Black Lives Matter: Vigil for the Fallen”

On October 1, people gathered for the “Black Lives Matter: Vigil for the Fallen” in Columbia, SC. Here are the pictures.

PEACE DAY AT THE STATEHOUSE Sun, Sep, 18th 2PM-5PM

Join us for PEACE DAY AT THE STATEHOUSE Sunday Sept 18th 2PM-5PM featuring

Understanding Islam and Muslims, Thu, Sep 8, 6:00-7:30 PM

Introduction to the Refugee Task Force of Carolina Peace Resource Center

The Refugee Task Force of Carolina Peace Resource Center meets monthly to plan educational, visibility and charitable events to support refugees and refugee resettlement programs. We also promote legislative advocacy at the federal and local levels, and we strive to stay abreast of anti-refugee legislation so that we can organize to defeat it.

Email us for more information. We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, not matter how much time you have to give. Volunteering matters to us.

You can follow the Refugee Task Force’s activities on Facebook. Posts on the task force’s activities are in the category Refugee Task Force.