Voices In America

A reading of The New Colossus. A poem by Emma Lazarus displayed at the base of the statue of Liberty. Read by modern-day American immigrants.Thanks again to everyone for lending their voice to this project. Special thanks to Greg Grunberg, Cristela Alonzo, Wilmer Valderrama, Judy London and Public Counsel.Music provided by Bensound.com

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Meet Catherine Wager, Deacon at Episcopal Diasis in Los Angeles. She opens her heart and her home to immigrants seeking asylum in the United States. Although Catherine has had guests in her home for up to 3 years at a time, she and her husband Bruce see the deed as nothing special. If you as Catherine why do this, she states "we do this because we can".

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Long before there was 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernik, San Francisco was home to another protestor, Harry Bridges; Australian immigrant, American citizen, union leader, protestor. The U.S. government’s efforts to throw Bridges out of the country is the story of loyal American dissent and the the price the protestor pays for exercising “free” speech.

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Too often, the fact that there are millions of refugees in the world becomes a deadening statistic. In this episode, the story of one refugee offers an insight into the horrors these refugees escape, and the challenges the face if they’re fortunate enough to come to America.

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Refugees seeking asylum often have one thing in common, being victims of torture. State sanctioned terrorism on an individual level. Physician Cynthia Willard shares her experiences working with and supporting victims of torture.

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They are the youngest asylum seekers. Victims of rape, abuse, deprivation, they are expected to represent themselves in the complex world of Immigration Court. Attorney Judy London of Public Counsel tells the story of a life spent her trying to help the neediest and most vulnerable.

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Actor and activist Wilmer Valderrama tells his immigrant story, what it means to him to live in America, how division rather than diversity is the biggest threat to our democracy, and why you— yeah, YOU -- need to get up and stand for your rights.

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Most Americans will never see the inside of an immigration court,which is too bad, because if they did, maybe they would demand dueprocess, fairness, and the resources to ensure both sides have a shotat getting something close to justice. Attorney Peter A. shares hisfirst-hand experience with the surreal world of America's worst courtsystem.

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Jay was was one of the Middle East’s most popular television and film stars; think the Russell Crowe of the region. He was rich, famous, and popular. Then he criticized the Assad regime. Forced to flee Syria with almost nothing but a Hollywood dream, he and his wife Fadia are starting over in America.

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Born in the USA on the Mexican border, Cristela overcame poverty, homelessness, and racism to become a star, with her own network television show and thriving stand-up comedy career. So why does she sometimes feel like an immigrant in her own country?

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