Walk with Us

The migrant crisis through the eyes of Pastor Ignacio Martinez, the founder of ABBA safehouse in Celaya, “It’s not about us - it’s about the dignity of our brother ‘travellers.”

It started when Ignacio and his family took food to migrants jumping freight trains Some were sick, there was nowhere to wash or sleep. So he founded ABBA, where  they can rest, receive food and medical and psychological help .  The film shows the gap between President Trump calling migrants  “rapists and criminals” -  and the sad reality. Most are escaping abject poverty and gang violence in  El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala . Their governments  - backed by the US for decades, - are enmeshed in endemic corruption The migrants’ dreams of a better life in the USA have been met by tear gas at the border.

They are part of a worldwide crisis - 68 million migrants are on the move. The ravages of climate change will create millions more. Yet nations refuse them. Britains’ Brexit aims to restrict  them. Many Syrians, Afghanis and Iraqis languish in sordid camps in Greece, or are beaten from the borders of Croatia, Hungary and Poland.  The irony is that many countries have aging populations and declining birth-rates. So immigrants – who do the work that no one wants – are needed.

In this world of nationalism and xenophobia, Ignacio’s work is vitally important 

“They are people like us, with rights and dreams of a better life, and hoping to create opportunities for their children.”

The directors will be present: Judy Jackson’s life was threatened many times as she made films documenting  dictatorship, torture, disappearance. 

Dennis Lanson's  work has appeared on PBS and at many festivals. He is making a film about a Newfoundland town struggling with the effects of climate change. 

Stan Allen, Luisa Field, Jody Nolan and Laura Sierra will talk about working with ABBA.