Question authority and always question what you are being told. What started as an invitation to a Tucson “Stand Up Against Hate” protest lead me to months of work on a full documentary that has forever changed my perspective of what is broadcast to us nationwide everyday. The over all theme of our mass broadcast is that we should harbor extreme personalized fears for one of two groups of people, Muslims and Patriots.
My hopes are that these interviews and protest footage will allow you to see things for yourself enough to make up; your own mind, without the sensationalized media hype so often bundled within our own fears, hate, and bigotry. Depending on what political side of the spectrum you lean, you might too have preconceived negative feelings for one of these two groups of people, who have been obsessively generalized to complete demagoguery, for political gain in this years’ American presidential election. Rhetoric or reality? This documentary gives a realistic perspective that does not represent everything that we are being told about our American Muslims and American Patriots.
My invitation on social media to the Tucson protest was a month in advance to the event. Knowing little of what prompted the Tucson event, much research was done in learning of the history of events that lead up to. This all started with a protest that gained national attention in May 2015 lead by Jon Ritzheimer. Ritzheimer He used social media to declare his opposition to Islam and made a call to protest in front of a mosque near his residence in Phoenix, Arizona wearing a T-shirt that had “Fuck Islam” imprinted on it.
He is affiliated with the 3 Percenters and formerly associated with the group Oath Keepers, a group made up of current and former military and law enforcement officers who focus on defending the constitution has expelled Ritzheimer from their group. Most recently Ritzheimer was involved in the Oregon standoff who occupied federal lands to speak out against the Bureau of Land Management.
My interest in speaking with Ritzheimer was not on my agenda however contacting both organizers of the Tucson protest and counter protest was where a set my sights. This lead to much more research to fully understand the bigger picture then the limited perception that was spoon fed to me on the news. What made this experience invaluable for me is that all of my fears and prejudges were challenged to a point of greater understanding of both sides. With the tools and knowledge that is available to me, this is my attempt to tell the story of many kind individuals taking an active roll in our own Governance with the approach of peace, prosperity, and freedom for all. In talking to both sides, my finding led me to believe more in the good of most people, even those in large groups that we are expected to fear the most.
Video Chapters:
Our 1st Amendment (3:03)
Inspiration behind the Tucson Counter protests (6:12)
Phoenix Rally and Protest (10:09)
The Establishment and Free Exercise of Religion (14:50)
Comments on the Phoenix Rally & Counter Protest (16:32)
“The Dirty 3” Patriots (30:13)
Comments on the Media (32:40)
The Information Behind Organizing the Tucson Rally (41:22)
The U.S. Constitution and Islam (55:30)
Our Freedom of Speech (1:03:56)
“End Hate Speech, End Hate Crimes” and “Muslim Lives Matter” (1:04:45)
Our Right to Peaceably Assemble and Petition for a Redress of Grievances (1:13:01)
The Anti-Colonial Anarchist Black Bloc (1:13:47)
Tucson “Stand Up Against Hate” Protest ( 1:20:55)
Police Interaction at the Tucson Protest (1:32:47)
Steve Kozachik comments (1:40:24)
Questioning Authority and Critical Thinking (1:41:44)
Our Freedom of the Press (1:44:56)
Speaking The Truth and Challenging Stereotypes (1:47:53)
Ending Credits (1:50:50)