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Fatal Funnel Finale: A special free event at Welder Center
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To mark the end of this newspaper’s 16-month immigration and border series, the Victoria Advocate invites you to a special event.
Want to attend?
For one night, a sheriff, priest and famed international journalist will share a stage and answer your questions about trafficking in the Crossroads.
The Fatal Funnel Finale, named for the newspaper’s oft-controversial series, is set for Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. The free event is at the Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Victoria.
Dr. Tim Hudson, University of Houston-Victoria president, will begin the night by discussing a song he wrote and produced. The song is based on the story of the 19 illegal immigrants found dead in Victoria on May 14, 2003. The event hosts the first public unveiling of the song, which is set to video.
This special event will also detail the scope of the 16-month newspaper project – from trips to Mexican drug cartel hotbeds, stops throughout the Valley and back to the local scene of the historic immigration tragedy. A short film will look back at the work involved, the topics covered and the places visited.
Following the music video, the short project summation film and talks from an Advocate staffer, the event transitions to a roundtable discussion. Speakers include:
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Sheriff T. Michael O’Connor, who scoured his land for tragedy survivors in May 2003 and who now battles trafficking daily.
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Fr. Stan DeBoe, a local priest who worked in Colombia during a brutal drug war. He was a Congressional advisor for foreign affairs and human rights issues such as human trafficking and immigration.
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Macarena Hernandez, an acclaimed former Dallas Morning News and San Antonio Express-News immigration reporter and columnist. Hernandez also co-produced projects for PBS’s “Frontline.”
After the discussion, the floor opens to questions from the audience.
O’Connor, who dubbed the highways that lead from Victoria to Mexico the “Fatal Funnel,” said this event offers residents a look behind the scenes.
“This gives people a follow-up on the first newspaper presentation, the showing of the film ‘Drug Wars: Silver or Lead,’” the sheriff said, noting the December 2008 event. “Drugs and immigration are all interconnected. During this event, we can give them the rest of the story. I regard the whole issue, the trafficking, as extremely important. It affects our lives. I encourage people to get involved. At the very least, they should come to this event and ask questions.”
EVENT DETAILS
If you go * When: Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. Please arrive by 6:45 p.m.
- Where: Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Victoria.
- Ticket info: Tickets are free and available for pickup beginning Wednesday, Aug. 19, at the Victoria Advocate and Welder Center. Please limit four per pick-up.
- Remaining tickets available at the Welder Center the night of the event. Access limited to 500 guests.
For more information, contact me at 361-580-6519 or gsemenza@vicad.com.
Thanks for your interest,
Advocate Public Service Editor Gabe Semenza
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Comments
Maybe we should go and try to ask the tough questions or is this like an Obama townhall where all the people are ringers?
August 20, 2009 at 7:41 p.m.itsallfunny,
Best be careful! Making fun of the Advocate can get your comments quickly removed OR they may ban you from the forum altogether, especially if you question why they removed a post.
August 18, 2009 at 8:11 p.m.You removed my comment why? Because I said you were glorifying illegal activity?? Oh come on people.
August 18, 2009 at 7:03 p.m.I do remember that, all kinds of TV news crews at the Ben Jordon rail crossing, Houston, San Antonio, ect.
If I recollect it was blamed on a insecticide used in the box car before it was loaded with either masa, or corn husks.
August 18, 2009 at 6:51 p.m.Hey VA, maybe you can do a 16 part series of that other illegal alien deaths. If memory serves me right I remember 13 illegals who died in a fumigated rail car here in Victoria. Come VA Fatal Funnel Fans, help me here, remember the bodies found in that rail car near the depot in the 80s. The VA might be able to squeeze another 16 immigration and border series here.
I feel like I’ve had half my teeth pulled one at a time. Why not go for the other 16 VA?
August 18, 2009 at 5:13 p.m.Is Macarena going to dance the Macarena?
August 18, 2009 at 4:58 p.m.A note to clarify: This event, as you might notice from the list of non-newspaper guests who will speak that night, is not to pat ourselves on the back. The event is set to discuss current immigration problems and potential solutions.
If you get a chance, please read through the "Fatal Funnel" series: www.VictoriaAdvocate.com/FatalFunnel. Only a few monthly installments detailed the immigrants involved in the tragedy, while the vast majority of reporting centered on human and drug trafficking in South Texas, as well as all the off-shoot issues.
Thanks -- Gabe
August 18, 2009 at 4:11 p.m.Don't worry. I am sure if you miss it they will have a followup video of the video being shown.
August 18, 2009 at 3:22 p.m.I heard rumors that the name of their behind the scenes look at the making of, will be titled "terrible toilet"
No thank you. I have to wash my hair that night...or something I am sure.
August 18, 2009 at 2:36 p.m.The celebrations for me is not for the reason they set it up for. CELEBRATE THIS IS FINALLY OVER....or is it - will they come back with a sequel? I am not sure the twin towers got this much newsprint and thousands of people were killed in that one.
August 18, 2009 at 2:08 p.m.What crap. An event to end a bad series. How pathetic is the advocate. Lets pat ourselves on the back one last time about this overdone story. Enough already let it die in piece.
August 18, 2009 at 2:05 p.m.