Saturday, April 12 special event TEATRO JORNALERO

Special event: Teatro Jornalero 2:30pm Saturday April 12, La Peña

Co-hosted by Friends of La Peña Immigrant Rights

A group of Central American and Mexican day laborers in Fruitvale formed the Teatro Jornalero/Day Laborers Theater, breaking through the safety of silence to share their stories with the wider public. In this multi-lingual documentary theater performance, they reveal not only their own intimate histories and hopes, but also deep cultural roots, and the tragic effects of global forces on their lives. Day laborers lack basic legal rights and can be deported without notice. They are hired only for an hour, a day or a week at a time, and usually paid in cash, without Social Security, health insurance or job security. Many receive illegally low wages, or have their wages stolen, while experiencing other humiliations caused by public ignorance or even fear. Day laborers are often highly skilled, with years of experience, but have little chance of economic advancement or education because they are undocumented, and face discrimination on the basis of race, nationality and language.

The Teatro was created in partnership with Peralta Hacienda Historical Park.Text above was provided by the Oakland Theater Project which hosted performances of the Teatro.

For more information about the performance and the future of the Teatro Jornalero, please visit Berkeleyside and Channel 7 ABC News Interview