THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK (CUNY),
THE HOSTOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION &
BRONX COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO HOST PREMIERE OF
SANTIAGO’S PAMPHLETEERS

WHAT: The City University of New York, the Eugenio María de Hostos Community College Foundation, and Bronx Community College are proud to announce the Bronx première of Los Panfleteros de Santiago (Santiago’s Pamphleteers), an English-subtitled documentary film about the courage and heroism of 27 young Dominican rebels who used flyers to exercise freedom of speech in an attempt to reclaim the Dominican Republic from dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo.  Only one of the victims’ mothers is still living; at the age of eighty, she continues to call for justice, asking in vain, “Where are the graves of my son and Santiago’s pamphleteers?”

This documentary film is an original production of the Institute for Latino Studies, the New Jersey Conference on Dominican Affairs (CODA) and the Common Roots Project.

Based on the writings of Dr. Ramón Antonio Veras (Negro Veras), Los Panfleteros de Santiago presents rare archival materials and compelling interviews with survivors and eyewitnesses to the torture and execution of the 27 young panfleteros.

The première will be followed by a discussion with Dr. Veras, who is himself a survivor of the panfletero atrocity.  Dr. Veras will travel from the Dominican Republic to participate in this event.

“We sought to awaken the peoples’ conscience, so that they would know that Trujillo could be challenged and confronted,” said Dr. Veras.  “Up till then, the people accepted everything; no one protested; the only voice, the only propaganda that was heard was Trujillo’s.  We wanted to counter this by saying, ‘No, we also have our own truth’.”

WHEN: Thursday, June 25, 2009, 7:30 PM

WHERE: Hostos Repertory Theater, Eugenio María de Hostos Community College, 450 Grand Concourse Bronx, NY.

EVENT: Proceeds from Bronx première of film Los Panfleteros de Santiago (Santiago’s Pamphleteers) will benefit the Hostos Creative Campus Study Abroad Program in Samaná, Dominican Republic. A trailer can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5xikENlquA.

The musical theme of the film, “Dónde estan las tumbas”? (Where are the graves?), was composed by Dominican music icon Victor Victor; the lyrics are by Néstor Montilla, and it is performed on the soundtrack by Dominican singer Tessie Sánchez.

VIP Reception at the Hostos Art Gallery & viewing: $50. General Admission: $25. Senior citizens & students: $15. For more information and tickets please contact the Hostos Box Office at 718-518-4455 or online at www.hostos.cuny.edu/culturearts.

For more news and events about Hostos Community College please visit www.hostos.cuny.edu/news.