On Nov. 9 and 10, 2024, Enzo Camacho and Ami Lien screened their newest experimental labor-activist documentary, Langit Lupa (Heaven and Earth) (2023), at 2220 Arts + Archives in Historic Filipinotown. The documentary braids personal testimonies from survivors of the violent Escalante Massacre with vivid phytograms taken from a sugar plantation in Negros, Philippines, raw 16 mm film, and theatrical performances by Escalante children. The weekend screenings and related programs were part of Camacho and Lien’s artist residency with Active Cultures, a public arts nonprofit in Los Angeles that explores the intersection of art, food, and ecologies through artist-led projects and programs.
Southern California Fires and Mutual Aid
Although the fires are mostly contained today, Angelenos struggle to rebuild, whether they were directly or indirectly impacted by the crisis. It’s dehumanizing to attempt to resume business as usual because entire communities were leveled and livelihoods were lost. Supporting local mutual aid efforts and collectively pressuring administrative bodies remain crucial in serving the needs of our communities.
Stand Up, Fight Back! AFSCME 3299 Workers and Student Advocates Strike
On Nov. 20 and 21, Local 3299 workers picketed in front of the Ronald Reagan Medical Hospital, Luskin Conference Center, and at Bruin Plaza from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Across the UC campuses, more than 37,000 workers joined the AFSCME picket lines. Students demonstrated in solidarity, mobilized by the Student Labor Advocacy Project (SLAP) at UCLA.