Bordertown |
- Jennifer Lopez Working Alongside Amnesty International
Amnesty International is proud to support Bordertown, a film starring Jennifer Lopez that tells the story of a reporter who is sent to Juarez, a city gripped with fear where hundreds of women have been brutally raped and murdered.
"Since first hearing of these atrocities in 1998, when Gregory Nava came to me with this project, I desperately wanted to tell this story. I began working to ensure we made this film in order to bring the attention of the world to this tragedy and to pressure the Mexican government to bring to justice those responsible for these horrible crimes" stated Lopez.
"It sends a strong message to the public when someone like Jennifer Lopez demonstrates her personal commitment to a cause," said Larry Cox, executive director of Amnesty International USA (AIUSA). "We are thrilled that her support will help us reach entirely new audiences who can invigorate an international movement to save women's lives."
Viewing Bordertown was a very powerful and emotional experience for Norma Andrade, co-founder of Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa (Bring Our Daughters Home), an organization consisting of mothers and families of the murdered women of Juarez. "Jennifer met with me and the other mothers and showed us the film before anyone else saw it," she explained. "It was as if I were seeing my daughter again. Like Lilia, the girl in the film was 17 years old, worked in a NAFTA factory and was kidnapped on her way home. She was raped and killed for no reason except that these men know they can do it and no one will stop them. That is why the murders continue today."
Lopez continues her work with AIUSA through this website, to inspire activism and seek justice for those who have been abducted and murdered in Juarez and Chihuahua, Mexico for more than a decade.
 Jennifer Lopez stands with Catalina Gonzalez, whose daughter Cristina Escobar Gonzalez was murdered in Juarez, Mexico on 3/13/04 at the age of 22. |
 Jennifer Lopez comforts a mother whose daughter was murdered in Juarez, Mexico. |
 Norma Andrade and her daughter Marilu stand to the left of Jennifer Lopez. Norma is the mother of Lilia Alejandra Garcia Andrade who was found murdered just 300 feet from her maquiladora (NAFTA factory) in February 2001. To the right of Jennifer stands Marisela Ortiz and her daughter Nakarowari. Marisela Ortiz was Lilia Alejandra Garcia Andrade high school teacher. Norma Andrade and Marisela Ortiz founded Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa (Bring Our Daughters Home) which is an organization consisting of mothers and families of the disappeared and assassinated women of Juarez. The "Artists for Amnesty" Award ceremony honoring Jennifer Lopez on February 14th marks the 6th anniversary of the kidnapping of Lilia Alejandra Garcia Andrade. Norma Andrade and Marisela Ortiz will present a special thanks to Jennifer Lopez on that night for bringing world attention to the femicide in Juarez. |
