Latest news with #GuatemalanCivilWar
New York Times
10-08-2025
- New York Times
After Six Years of Reporting, Sharing a Story of Resilience
Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together. Sunday's New York Times Magazine tells the story of a group of Mayan women in Guatemala who had banded together to prosecute the men who raped them 40 years ago during the Guatemalan civil war. It's a story that the photojournalist Victor J. Blue has been following since 2019, when he was introduced to several of the women. 'They were so brave and open and clear that they had nothing to be ashamed of — it was bracing,' said Mr. Blue, who has covered Guatemala for more than two decades and photographed conflicts in Afghanistan and the Middle East. During three reporting trips to Guatemala, Mr. Blue attended court hearings, visited the women in their villages, interviewed them in Spanish and rode with them on the hourslong bus journey from the town of Rabinal to the Supreme Court in Guatemala City. He and editors at The Magazine spent the last few months paring down his thousands of photographs into the stark black-and-white visual presentation published online last month and in print on Sunday. In a recent interview, he shared how he gained the trust of the women, his biggest reporting challenge and what he hopes readers understand after seeing the photos. These are edited excerpts from the conversation. How did you first come across this story? I'd been working in Guatemala for over two decades, most of that time trying to cover the aftermath of the civil war there. For years, I'd also been following the process of the legal cases that were looking to punish or to demand accountability from some of the people who committed the worst crimes during the war. In 2019, I heard about this group of Maya Achi women who were trying to start a trial to get justice against their attackers. A photographer friend introduced me to some of the women, and I followed them around for a day in Guatemala City as they were trying to push their case forward. I was floored by not only the crimes they had suffered through, but also their absolute determination to hunt for justice for what had been done to them. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hamilton Spectator
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Continental courage
One wouldn't initially see the relationship between migrant workers and environmental issues, because it's rarely talked about. But there is a connection. The relationship is something that ran as an underlying theme during the Community Climate Justice Forum this spring, a public forum held in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) and hosted by the UBC Learning Exchange. Attendees included the public and several DTES organizations who heard from UBC researchers and community advocates about new findings related to extreme heat, housing, health and urban greening. Participants also shared how to include traditionally marginalized groups, such as the poor and people of colour, in conversations when making policy changes. Ingrid Mendez, a feisty and passionate Guatemalan woman, spoke on a panel and explained the plight of migrant workers in B.C. in relation to climate change issues. Mendez came to Canada in 1991 from Coactemalan, which is a Nahuatl name meaning 'place of many trees.' She fled her homeland because she feared persecution being a university student protesting against the massacres (the mass killing of the Maya Indigenous people during the Guatemalan Civil War 1960–1996) and the disappearances of fellow classmates. When she arrived in B.C., she fought for the rights of migrant workers in the DTES, and eventually took the role of executive director at the Migrant Workers Centre, a non-profit organization dedicated to legal advocacy for migrant workers in B.C. She explained that each year, there are approximately 125,000 migrant workers that come to the province to work in various sectors, leaving their families behind, from countries like Mexico, Guatemala, the Caribbean, Vietnam and South Asia. There is a connection to the environment for these workers. According to Mendez, migrants in B.C. produce the food we eat, take care of our loved ones, grow the plants and trees for our gardens and parks, work in the food industry and clear the spaces we meet in and socialize. 'Without them,' she says, 'the economy would suffer.' Amid growing pressure from the U.S. under Trump-era policies, immigration has moved to the forefront of public debate both north and south of the border, and Canada is being pushed to 'secure its borders' — a move that's fuelling fear and uncertainty, particularly among migrant workers and international students. The reality, says Mendez, is that migrants often take on work that many Canadians are unwilling to do. 'They pay taxes just like anyone living here permanently,' Mendez adds. Yet despite their contributions, migrants are frequently scapegoated — blamed for everything from rising crime to the housing crisis. And their working conditions are often hazardous. Migrant workers have been forced by their employers to continue working through wildfires and floods, Mendez says. 'Once they arrive, many face abuse and exploitation at the hands of their employers or supervisors.' Migrant workers are often compelled to work excessive hours in unsafe, sometimes life-threatening conditions, she adds, including being made to continue farm labour while wildfires burn nearby, with little protection and barely breathable air. Mendez says there have been cases where workers have been left behind by their employers during floods, leaving them stranded on rooftops for hours, unsure of what to do — forced to watch the animals they had cared for, and formed bonds with, perish in the waters below. These experiences leave deep psychological scars that many will carry for the rest of their lives. Workers live in constant fear of deportation, a threat that looms large if they dare to speak up or demand their rights. Some endure emotional, physical and even sexual abuse. There have even been cases, though it's rarely reported on, says Mendez, where workers die or lose their limbs due to lack of health and safety. Instead, mainstream media reports there are too many immigrants that must be returned back home as quickly as possible because they are stealing Canadians' jobs. Mendez says that attitude fuels division and hatred, noting that 'abuse, exploitation, racism and scapegoating' are the realities faced by many migrants. Potential solutions include granting open work permits or providing permanent residency upon arrival. Mendez also advocates for more immigrant-positive and truthful reporting in mainstream media. What often goes unheard, she says, are the stories of emotional, mental, physical and sexual abuse experienced by people of colour who come to Canada in search of a better life. While this country presents itself to the world as an enlightened democracy, it hides dirty secrets — including its treatment of migrant workers. Mendez vows to courageously continue the work, fighting for justice here just as she did in her country of origin, despite today's oppressive political climate. Jathinder Sandhu is a Surrey resident and a published poet, writer, multimedia artist and member of The Shift peer newsroom. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Los Angeles Times
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Want to learn more about the Latino immigrant experience? These 5 films capture the journey
The ongoing ICE sweeps taking place across Los Angeles and the country have underscored the many challenges faced by immigrant communities. For decades, migrants across Latin America have traversed rugged terrain and seas in search of a better life in the United States, often risking their lives in the process. Various films have captured the complexities of the Latino immigrant experience. Here are five of them. 'El Norte' (1983) directed by Gregory Nava Siblings Rosa and Enrique Xuncax (played by Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez and David Villalpando, respectively) decide to flee to the U.S. after their family is killed in the Guatemalan Civil War, a government-issued massacre that decimated the country's Mayan population. After a dangerous trek through Mexico, Rosa and Enrique find themselves in Los Angeles, the land of hopes and dreams — or so they think. The 1983 narrative is the first independent film to be nominated for an Academy Award for original screenplay; it was later added to the National Film Registry in 1995. Decades later, 'El Norte' still feels prescient. '[Everything] that the film is about is once again here with us,' Nava told The Times in January. 'All of the issues that you see in the film haven't gone away. The story of Rosa and Enrique is still the story of all these refugees that are still coming here, seeking a better life in the United States.' 'Under the Same Moon' (2007) directed by Patricia Riggen Separated by borders, 9-year-old Carlitos (Adrián Alonso) yearns to reunite with his mother, Rosario (Kate del Castillo), who left him behind in Mexico with his ailing grandmother. After his grandmother passes, Carlitos unexpectedly flees alone to find his mother in Los Angeles, encountering harrowing scenarios as he pieces together details of her exact location. Directed by Patricia Riggen as her first full-length feature, it made its debut at Sundance Film Festival in 2007, where it received a standing ovation. 'All these people risked their lives crossing the border, leaving everything behind, for love,' says Riggen. 'For love of their families who they're going to go reach, for love of their families who they leave behind and send money to. But it always has to do with love and family.' 'Una Noche' (2012) directed by Lucy Mulloy There is no other option but the sea for the three Cuban youths in 'Una Noche' who attempt to flee their impoverished island on a raft after one of them, Raúl, is falsely accused of assaulting a tourist. Lila follows her twin brother Elio, who is best friends with Raúl, but all is tested in the 90 miles it takes to get to Miami. The 2012 drama-thriller premiered in the U.S. at the Tribeca Film Festival, where it won three top awards; its real-life actors Anailín de la Rúa de la Torre (Lila) and Javier Nuñez Florián (Elio) disappeared during the screening while in a stopover in Miami, later indicating that they were defecting. By this time, it was not uncommon to hear of Cuban actors and sports stars defecting to the U.S. '[Anailín and Javier] are quite whimsical and I can see how they'd decide to do something like this,' said director Lucy Mulloy when the news broke in 2012. 'But this is also an important life decision, and no one in Cuba takes it lightly.' 'I'm No Longer Here' (2019) directed by Fernando Frías de la Parra Ulises (Juan Daniel García Treviño) shines as the leader of Los Terkos, a Cholombiano subculture group in Monterrey known for their eclectic fashion and affinity for dancing and listening to slowed down cumbias. But after a misunderstanding makes him and his family the target of gang violence, he flees to New York City, where he must learn to navigate the unknown world as an individual at its fringes. The 2019 film swept Mexico's Ariel awards upon its release and was shortlisted in the international feature film category to represent Mexico at the 93rd Academy Awards. The contemporary film provided a nuanced perspective on the topic of migration that did not always hinge on violence. 'The idea was to have a film that is more open and has more air so that you can, as an audience, maybe see that yes, violence is part of that environment,' said director Fernando Frías de la Parra to The Tiimes in 2021. 'But so is joy and growth and other things.' 'I Carry You With Me' (2020) directed by Heidi Ewing Iván's (Armando Espitia) life appears at a standstill — he's a busboy with aspirations of becoming a chef, and a single dad to his 5-year-old son who lives with his estranged ex. But his monotonous life changes when he meets Gerardo (Christian Vázquez) at a gay bar, which shifts his journey into a blooming love story that traverses borders and decades. The story is inspired by the real-life love story of New York restaurateurs Iván García and Gerardo Zabaleta, strangers-turned-friends of director Heidi Ewing, a documentary filmmaker by training. The 2020 film first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the NEXT Innovator and Audience Awards. Nostalgia was a crucial element for the film, a poignant feeling for those unable to return. 'Sometimes I dream about when I was a kid in Mexico and that makes my day,' said García to The Times in 2021. 'That's all we have left, to live off our memories and our dreams.'
