12/11/02

LC021211

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> WE’LL VISIT A THIRD WORLD THAT’S RIGHT IN OUR OWN BACK YARD AND IT’S A REALLY BAD PLACE WHEN PEOPLE THERE GET SICK.

ROSA LUCAS>> I HAD A CALL FROM THE OFFICE AND THEY SAID, “WE DON’T WANT YOU TO SEND YOUR PATIENTS. WE DON’T WANT YOU TO SEND YOUR DIRTY, BROWN PATIENTS TO SIT WITH OUR PATIENTS ANYMORE” AND THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS IT UP.

VAL>> IT’S AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY THAT FEW AMERICANS WOULD TOLERATE. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE SCORES OF BRUTAL MURDERS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING FOR NEARLY A DECADE NEAR THE MEXICAN CITY OF JUAREZ. THE VICTIMS ARE ALL WOMEN AND TONIGHT WE FIND OUT HOW SOME AMERICANS ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE DEAD AREN’T FORGOTTEN.

JESS>> AND THEN THE STORY OF A SINGER WHO’S FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HER FAMOUS DAD.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> COUNTRY MUSIC LEGEND, HANK WILLIAMS, DIED IN 1953. TONIGHT WE’LL MEET THE DAUGHTER HE NEVER LIVED TO SEE.

VAL>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I’M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I’M JESS MARLOW. WHEN YOU THINK OF POOR SANITATION AND NO ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, THINK SOME POOR THIRD WORLD COUNTRY? ACTUALLY THOSE CONDITIONS EXIST LESS THAN AN HOUR AWAY FROM THE RICHEST NEIGHBORHOODS OF LOS ANGELES. THAT’S WHERE YOU’LL FIND FARM WORKERS, MIGRANT FAMILIES WHO HARVEST THE STATE’S CROPS AND KEEP THE NATION’S ECONOMY GOING.

VAL>> THEY COME FOR THE WORK AND DECENT WAGES, BUT WHEN THEY GET SICK, MANY FARM WORKERS HAVE VIRTUALLY NOWHERE TO TURN. AND AS GAY YEE REPORTS, IT’S NOT A SIMPLE MATTER OF DROPPING IN ON THE NEAREST CLINIC.

[FILM CLIP]

GAY YEE>> TINY COACHELLA IS IN THE HEART OF THE RICH CALIFORNIA FARM COUNTRY. IN THE WARM SUMMER, IT’S TEEMING WITH FARM WORKERS HAULING IN THE HARVEST, BUT DURING THE COOL WINTER, THE STREETS ARE NEARLY DESERTED. THAT’S NOT THE CASE INSIDE CLINICA CALIFORNIA. THE WAITING ROOM IS ALMOST ALWAYS CROWDED.

RICK NAHMIAS>> THIS IS CLINICA CALIFORNIA. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CLINIC WHICH BASICALLY CATERS PROMINENTLY TO MIGRANT FARM WORKER FAMILIES.

GAY YEE>> PHOTOJOURNALIST, RICK NAHMIAS, BROUGHT US HERE TO INTRODUCE US TO ROSA LUCAS. SHE’S ONE OF THE PEOPLE HE MET DURING HIS SIX MONTH INVESTIGATION OF CALIFORNIA FARM LABOR.

RICK NAHMIAS>> ROSA LUCAS IS A NURSE PRACTITIONER WHO STARTED THIS UP OVER TEN YEARS AGO AND IT’S ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES THEY CAN COME TO TO GET TREATED FAIRLY AND GET QUALITY HEALTHCARE AT A PRICE THEY CAN AFFORD.

GAY YEE>> ROSA GREW UP IN BIG-MONEY BEVERLY HILLS, BUT SHE WAS TOUCHED BY CESAR CHAVEZ AND THE FARM LABOR MOVEMENT IN THE 1970’S. SHE’S SPENT THE LAST FIFTEEN YEARS AS A HEALTH PROVIDER SERVING THE POOR IN COACHELLA VALLEY.

ROSA LUCAS>> SOME OF THEM MAY BE UNDOCUMENTED, BUT A LOT OF THEM AREN’T. A LOT OF THEM ARE LEGAL RESIDENTS NOW. A LOT OF THEM HAVE CITIZENSHIP OR ARE WAITING FOR CITIZENSHIP. IT DOESN’T MATTER. IF THEY’RE SICK, IF THEY HAVE TB, IF THEY’VE GOT HEPATITIS, WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

GAY YEE>> MOST OF ROSA’S PATIENTS DON’T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE AND THE ONES WHO DO OFTEN HAVE IT OFF AND ON.

ROSA LUCAS>> IF YOU WORK, SAY, I DON’T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF HOURS PER MONTH AND THEN YOU CAN GET INSURANCE FOR THAT MONTH. THEN IF YOU DON’T WORK THE NEXT MONTH, YOU DON’T HAVE INSURANCE FOR THE NEXT MONTH. AND IF YOU’RE MIGRANT, WELL, GOOD LUCK.

GAY YEE>> AND EVEN WITH INSURANCE, THERE’S NO GUARANTEE HER PATIENTS WILL GET ALL THE CARE THEY NEED. ROSA TELLS OF THE TIME SHE REFERRED ONE OF HER INSURED PATIENTS TO A SPECIALIST.

ROSA LUCAS>> I HAD A CALL FROM THE OFFICE AND THEY SAID, “WE DON’T WANT YOU TO SEND YOUR PATIENTS. WE DON’T WANT YOU TO SEND YOUR DIRTY, BROWN PATIENTS TO SIT WITH OUR PATIENTS ANYMORE” AND THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS IT UP.

GAY YEE>> DESPITE THEIR MASSIVE NUMBERS, THE FARM LABOR POPULATION IS INVISIBLE TO MOST OF US. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO PICK OUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND THEY RANK AMONG THE POOREST OF THE POOR. SOME SAY IT’S INEXCUSABLE THAT WE NOT LEND A HAND TO THE HANDS THAT FEED US.

[FILM CLIP]

GAY YEE>> SIX YEARS AGO, DR. DAVID MORGAN MADE HIS FIRST TRIP WITH A DENTIST TO THE COACHELLA VALLEY. MORGAN IS A MEMBER OF THE FLYING DOCTORS, A GROUP FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

DR. DAVID MORGAN>> I’M A PILOT AND I’M A PHYSICIAN BESIDES, AND FLYING LETS ME GET AWAY TO A POINT WHERE THE NEED IS GREAT.

GAY YEE>> THE DOCTORS, DENTISTS, OPTOMETRISTS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS ORGANIZE THIS HEALTH FAIR. SIX HUNDRED PEOPLE LINE UP JUST AFTER DAWN FOR A CHANCE TO GET FREE MEDICAL CARE, NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

VALERIE MONTGOMERY>> WE’VE HAD SOME EAR INFECTIONS, SKIN RASHES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, SOMEBODY POSSIBLY MIGHT HAVE GALL BLADDER TROUBLE GOING ON WHICH NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED UP.

GAY YEE>> FOR MANY, THIS IS THE ONLY CHANCE TO SEE A DOCTOR ALL YEAR. FOR OTHERS, IT’S THE FIRST MEDICAL HELP EVER.

DR. TOM BRENNER>> SHE HAS AN EYE TURN. HER LEFT EYE TURNS OUT COMPARED TO HER RIGHT EYE. IT’S CALLED STRABISMUS.

GAY YEE>> FOR THE DOCTORS, THE EXPERIENCE IS GRATIFYING AND HEARTBREAKING ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

DR. TOM BRENNER>> IT IS. IT’S FRUSTRATING. IT’S A SITUATION WHERE, YOU KNOW, LACK OF TREATMENT ENDS UP RESULTING IN A SITUATION THAT YOU CAN’T REALLY FIX.

GAY YEE>> THE SCENE IN THE DENTAL AREA IS STARTLING.

DR. MARK CARPENTER>> THIS TOOTH HAS BEEN ROTTING FOR MANY YEARS AND THE ROOT HAS RESORBED AND FINALLY SHE CAME IN AND WE TOOK WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE TOOTH OUT AND THEN TRIED TO FEEL IN THERE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY ROOT LEFT.

GAY YEE>> THERE ISN’T AN X-RAY MACHINE AND NO TIME TO DO ROOT CANALS, SO THE TEAM USUALLY ENDS UP PULLING TEETH.

DR. MARK CARPENTER>> IT’S VERY TYPICAL TO THIRD WORLD DENTISTRY. YOU HAVE A HIERARCHY OF NEEDS AND PAIN IS NUMBER ONE. WE NEED TO GET THEM OUT OF PAIN.

GAY YEE>> NOT EVERYONE APPROVES OF THESE SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANTS BECAUSE SOME OF THE WORKERS ARE HERE ILLEGALLY. BUT DR. CARPENTER SAYS PEOPLE FORGET. THEY PERFORM A SERVICE TOO.

DR. MARK CARPENTER>> I’VE COME HERE BEFORE AND WORKED ON THESE PEOPLE AND I’VE HAD PATIENTS SO GRATIFIED THAT THEY’VE BROUGHT FRUIT. IT BRINGS TO MIND THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR US HAVING THE WONDERFUL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT THEY HAVE AND THEY WORK SO HARD TO DO THAT. THEY DESERVE OUR HELP. THEY DESERVE OUR VERY BEST.

GAY YEE>> EXPERTS SAY NO SINGLE GROUP OF WORKERS IN AMERICA FACE GREATER BARRIERS TO BASIC HEALTHCARE THAN FARM WORKERS. SOMETIMES IT’S LACK OF MONEY, OTHER TIMES IT’S IMMIGRATION STATUS. TO ROSA, IT’S A SHAME.

ROSA LUCAS>> THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO PUT THE FOOD ON YOUR TABLE, BUT THEN THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO SOMETIMES DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT THEMSELVES. IT’S NOT RIGHT. IT’S NOT HUMAN. IT’S NOT THE WAY WE’RE SUPPOSED TO TREAT EACH OTHER.

JESS>> GAY JOINS US NOW. TELL US MORE ABOUT THE BEVERLY HILLS WOMAN WHO HAS DEVOTED HERSELF TO THIS.

GAY YEE>> SHE IS AN INTERESTING PERSON. SHE IS A WONDERFUL CHARACTER. SHE DECIDED THAT THERE WAS A GREAT NEED. THERE WAS A CLINIC THERE FIFTEEN YEARS AGO. IT CLOSED DOWN AND MANY, MANY OF THE PEOPLE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GO TO A COUNTY HOSPITAL VERY, VERY FAR AWAY. SO HER IDEA WAS, OKAY, LET'S CHARGE A LOW FEE, $30 FOR KIDS FOR AN OFFICE VISIT, $35 A VISIT FOR ADULTS.

VAL>> THAT'S ALL THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TREATMENT?

GAY YEE>> THAT'S ALL THEY HAVE TO PAY AND, IF THEY DO HAVE INSURANCE, SHE WILL JUST TAKE THE EIGHTY PERCENT. THERE IS NO CO-PAY, SO SHE HELPS THEM OUT THAT WAY.

JESS>> IT'S DIFFICULT WITH FARM WORKERS AND THEIR EMPLOYMENT TO REALLY MAINTAIN HEALTH INSURANCE, IS IT NOT?

GAY YEE>> IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. AS ROSA MENTIONED, MANY OF THE EMPLOYERS BASE IT ON THE NUMBER OF HOURS. THIS IS SEASONAL WORK, SO THERE ARE MONTHS WHERE THERE IS PLENTY OF WORK AND THERE ARE MONTHS WHERE THERE IS NO WORK.

JESS>> AND IF YOU'RE NOT WORKING, NO INSURANCE.

GAY YEE>> AND IF YOU'RE NOT WORKING, YOU DON'T GET INSURANCE FOR THAT MONTH, AND SUPPOSE MANY OF THIS POPULATION HAVE ISSUES SUCH AS DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HEART DISEASE. THEY HAVE CHRONIC ILLNESS. THEY NEED ONGOING CARE, BUT ONE MONTH, THEY HAVE THEIR DRUGS, ANOTHER MONTH, THERE'S NO INSURANCE TO PAY FOR IT.

JESS>> AND THAT OTHER GROUP, THE GROUP OF DOCTORS AND DENTISTS WHO FLY IN, I MEAN, HOW ACTIVE CAN THEY BE? HOW MANY VISITS TO DIFFERENT MIGRANT AREAS ARE THEY ABLE TO MAKE?

GAY YEE>> THIS GROUP FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SACRAMENTO AREA, COMES DOWN TWICE A YEAR, SO A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE SEE THESE DOCTORS ONLY TWICE A YEAR, THAT MUCH. THE THING THAT WAS REALLY SHOCKING WAS THE DENTAL ISSUE. MANY, MANY FARM WORKERS ARE OUT THERE IN PAIN WHO HAVE NEVER SEEN A DENTIST EVER.

VAL>> WOW. IT'S SO HARD TO DO FOLLOW-UP CARE IF IT'S ONLY TWICE A YEAR.

GAY YEE>> AND THAT'S THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING FOR THE DOCTORS, THAT THEY CAN'T BE THERE.

VAL>> GAY YEE, THANK YOU. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE THIRD PART TOMORROW NIGHT.

TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, THE STORY OF A WHITE TEACHER WHO CRITICIZED THE BEHAVIOR OF SOME BLACK STUDENTS AT A PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL. WE'LL LOOK AT THE FALLOUT AND THE SOUL-SEARCHING THAT FOLLOWED.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S GOT TO BE A GOOD THING TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT REAL ISSUES, WHOEVER YOU ARE. GET THEM ON THE TABLE. IF WE CAN NEVER TALK ABOUT THEM, WELL, HOW ARE WE EVER GOING TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THEM?

JESS>> IT'S AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY THAT SAYS A GREAT DEAL ABOUT LIFE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ALONG THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER. THE LOCATION? THE SPRAWLING MEXICAN CITY OF JUAREZ. OVER THE PAST DECADE, HUNDREDS OF WOMEN THERE HAVE BEEN THE TARGETS OF BRUTAL, SOMETIMES RITUALISTIC, MURDERS AND CRITICS SAY THAT VERY LITTLE HAS BEEN DONE TO SOLVE THE CASES. HERE'S HOW THE PROGRAM, POV, EXPLORED THE PROBLEM.

POV BROADCAST>> "IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT IN THE LAST DECADE, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN TWO HUNDRED AND FOUR HUNDRED YOUNG WOMEN HAVE BEEN KILLED. ONLY A FEW OF THESE CRIMES HAVE BEEN SOLVED. CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO IS A CITY ACROSS THE BORDER FROM EL PASO, TEXAS. TO SOME NORTH AMERICANS, IT IS WHERE EVERYTHING ELICIT IS AVAILABLE. FOR YOUNG WOMEN ARRIVING ALONE EACH DAY FROM MEXICO'S POOREST REGIONS, JUAREZ IS A PLACE TO FIND WORK. HERE THEY EARN $4.00 TO $5.00 A DAY IN THE HOPE OF THEIR ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE."

VAL>> NOW A GROUP OF ARTISTS ARE LAUNCHING THEIR OWN CRUSADE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VICTIMS ARE NOT FORGOTTEN. VICTORIA DELGADILLO AND RIGO MALDONADO ARE USING THEIR WORK TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE MURDERS. THE PROJECT IS CALLED "HIJAS DE JUAREZ", DAUGHTERS OF JUAREZ. WELCOME, BOTH OF YOU, TO LIFE AND TIMES.

VICTORIA DELGADILLO>> THANK YOU.

RIGO MALDONADO>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING US.

JESS>> YOU'RE USING YOUR CULTURE TO BRING ATTENTION TO SOME CULTURAL PROBLEMS?

RIGO MALDONADO>> WELL, WE FEEL IT'S NOT REALLY OUR CULTURE. IT'S MORE OF A HUMAN ISSUE, MORE OF A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE. IT'S NOT A FEMINIST THING, IT'S NOT A LATINO THING, IT'S NOT A MEXICAN THING. IT'S MORE OF A HUMAN AWARENESS, YOU KNOW. IT'S A TRAGEDY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN JUAREZ, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING ATTENTION ON AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL AS WELL.

JESS>> BUT THE ABSENCE OF ARRESTS, THE ABSENCE OF PROSECUTIONS IN JUAREZ, IS PARTLY A CULTURAL PROBLEM, IS IT NOT?

VICTORIA DELGADILLO>> WELL, I DO BELIEVE PERSONALLY THAT THERE ARE SOME LAWS IN MEXICO THAT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE THAT COULD COMMIT THESE CRIMES WHERE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS LESS -- THERE'S LESS -- HOW COULD I SAY --

VAL>> -- LESS STRICT PUNISHMENT?

VICTORIA DELGADILLO>> STRICT PUNISHMENT, EXACTLY, FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAN THERE WOULD BE FOR STEALING, SO YOU HAVE TO EVALUATE WHAT IS GOING ON. YOU KNOW, HOW ARE HUMAN LIVES VALUED, ESPECIALLY WOMEN'S LIVES ARE VALUED.

VAL>> BUT TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE MURDERS. NOW WE KNOW THAT 320 WOMEN HAVE DISAPPEARED OVER TEN YEARS. VARIOUS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND YET THE MURDERS CONTINUE, SO CLEARLY THEY'RE NOT GETTING ALL THE SUSPECTS OR THE RIGHT SUSPECTS IN JAIL. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS HOLDING UP THE MURDERS FROM BEING SOLVED? THERE'VE BEEN SO MANY OF THEM.

RIGO MALDONADO>> I THINK RIGHT AFTER THE NAFTA AGREEMENT THERE WERE JUST SO MANY ISSUES THEY WERE ARGUING ABOUT. WE HAVE SO MANY CLUES AND WE HAVE SO MUCH INFORMATION, YET THERE ARE SO MANY FINGERS TO POINT. WE CAN BLAME IT ON THE CORRUPT POLICE SYSTEM THERE, WE CAN BLAME IT ON THE GOVERNMENT, WE CAN BLAME ON USING THE BODIES FOR SNUFF FILMS OR FOR ORGAN DONATIONS --

VAL>> -- AND THERE ARE ALL THE DRUG TRAFFICKERS.

RIGO MALDONADO>> RIGHT, THE DRUG TRAFFICKERS. SO THERE ARE JUST SO MANY FINGERS TO POINT. I THINK OUR JOB IS TO EXPOSE THE ISSUE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T EVEN HEARD ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE 1990'S.

VAL>> AND ONE OF THE WAYS YOU DO THIS IS THROUGH YOUR ARTWORK AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT A PIECE OF ART THAT -- WHERE IS THIS? ON THE BORDER? AND IT'S TO REMIND PEOPLE OF THE VICTIMS, IS THAT RIGHT?

RIGO MALDONADO>> THIS IS ON THE BORDER IN JUAREZ, SO IT'S GOING INTO EL PASO, TEXAS. THERE WAS A GROUP OF ARTISTS WHO ORGANIZED THEMSELVES TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE IN JUAREZ. WHAT YOU'LL FIND IN JUAREZ RIGHT NOW IS A GROUP OF WOMEN WHO ACTUALLY PAINT PINK CROSSES EVERY TIME A WOMAN IS FOUND.

JESS>> NOW THIS WAS A MANNEQUIN? THIS IS NOT --

RIGO MALDONADO>> THIS WAS A MANNEQUIN, RIGHT.

JESS>> USED JUST TO SHOW --

VICTORIA DELGADILLO>> -- LIKE A STORE MANNEQUIN, RIGHT?

JESS>> TO ILLUSTRATE THE MURDERS.

VICTORIA DELGADILLO>> YES. IT'S VERY POWERFUL AND I EVEN UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WERE TOLD THEY MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE IT DOWN BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DISTURBED BY IT.

JESS>> MOST OF THE VICTIMS ARE YOUNG WOMEN?

VAL>> THAT LITTLE GIRL, SHE MUST BE ABOUT ELEVEN OR TWELVE.

RIGO MALDONADO>> RIGHT. THE YOUNGEST VICTIMS HAVE BEEN ELEVEN YEAR OLDS, RIGHT.

VAL>> NOW THERE'S A FAIR AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THAT THE POLICE ARE INVOLVED. ONE OF THE VICTIMS, OR RATHER A WOMAN WHO SPENT SOME TIME IN JAIL, HEARD SOME POLICE TALKING, SHE SAW SOME PHOTOGRAPHS. I MEAN, HOW DO YOU SOLVE THEM IF THE ACTUAL MEXICAN POLICE COULD BE PART OF THE PROBLEM, THE PERPETRATORS?

VICTORIA DELGADILLO>> I THINK IN THE LOURDES PORTILLO FILM, SHE DID EXPOSE THAT PERHAPS THE POLICE ARE TURNING A BLIND EYE. THERE ARE SO MANY FACTORS. THAT'S ONE OF THE FACTORS. SERIAL KILLERS, THE DRUGS, AGAIN, HARVESTING, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PEOPLE THERE.

VAL>> ORGAN HARVESTING? ELABORATE ON THAT.

VICTORIA DELGADILLO>> A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THERE BELIEVE THAT THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.

RIGO MALDONADO>> AND THAT'S WHY THE VICTIMS ARE SO YOUNG BECAUSE --

VAL>> -- THEY'RE HEALTHY.

RIGO MALDONADO>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

VAL>> SO THEY'RE BEING KILLED FOR THEIR ORGANS.

RIGO MALDONADO>> RIGHT.

VICTORIA DELGADILLO>> IT'S POSSIBLE.

JESS>> YOU'RE USING ART AS THE WEAPON. HOW EFFECTIVE CAN YOU BE USING ART?

RIGO MALDONADO>> WE'VE FOUND THAT WE'VE BEEN PRETTY EFFECTIVE. ON OUR OPENING NIGHT, WE HAD OVER THREE HUNDRED PEOPLE, THREE TO FOUR HUNDRED PEOPLE. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS NOT BEEN USED IN THE MEDIA, THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA. NOBODY REALLY HAS TALKED ABOUT IT.

JESS>> EVEN IN EL PASO?

RIGO MALDONADO>> IN EL PASO, DIANA WASHINGTON HAS BEEN COVERING THE STORY EXTENSIVELY, BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING THE NEWS OVER HERE. SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS BRING THE ISSUE OUT TO LOS ANGELES BECAUSE WE DO NEED INTERNATIONAL PRESSURES TO GO INTO JUAREZ. WHAT PEOPLE IN JUAREZ ARE FEELING RIGHT NOW IS THAT THEY'RE NOT GETTING ANY SUPPORT. YOU KNOW, THEY THINK THEY ARE IN THIS ON THEMSELVES AND --

VAL>> -- BUT ONE THING THEY ARE DOING -- RIGO, THIS IS YOUR WORK, IS THAT RIGHT?

RIGO MALDONADO>> RIGHT, THIS IS MY WORK. THIS IS CALLED "JUAREZ LANDSCAPE". TO ME, THE JUAREZ LANDSCAPE IS SO BEAUTIFUL, BUT YET THERE ARE SECRETS HIDDEN WITHIN THE MOUNTAINS OF JUAREZ. THIS IS, I THINK, MY REALITY OF JUAREZ IS THAT YOU HAVE SO MANY BODIES TURNING UP IN THE DESERT. I ENDED UP MY CROSSES WITH 320? BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE MORE, THERE MIGHT BE LESS. WE KNOW IT'S OVER THE 300.

JESS>> YOUR SPECIALTY IS INSTALLATION ART?

RIGO MALDONADO>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

VAL>> AND THEN YOU ALSO DID SOME ARTWORK, RIGHT, VICTORIA?

VICTORIA DELGADILLO>> YES. I'M A PAINTER, VISUAL ARTIST, AND WE STARTED OFF WHEN WE WENT TO JUAREZ IN FEBRUARY. WE WANTED TO PAY HONOR TO ONE OF THE VICTIM MOTHERS, PAINT A PORTRAIT OF HER DAUGHTER, AND THAT'S EXACTLY HOW THIS EXHIBIT STARTED. WE TOLD HER WE WOULD DO THIS PAINTING AND MAKE AN INSTALLATION IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD SO THAT SHE WOULDN'T BE FORGOTTEN. THEN THE SPARC SPACE LENT ITSELF TO HAVING A WHOLE EVENT, SO WE BUILT AN EVENT AROUND THIS PORTRAIT.

VAL>> SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EXHIBIT. IT'S GOING TO BE AT SPARC WHICH IS IN VENICE?

RIGO MALDONADO>> THE SOCIAL AND PUBLIC ART RESEARCH CENTER AT 685 VENICE BOULEVARD. IT'S UP UNTIL JANUARY 18, SO WE ARE HAVING --

VAL>> -- AND IT HAS INSTALLATION ART AND WHAT OTHER --

RIGO MALDONADO>> -- WE HAVE MIXED MEDIA. WE HAVE FROM INSTALLATIONS TO ALTERS TO PAINTING, VIDEO, SO WE INVITED LOCAL ARTISTS IN THE COMMUNITY, SOME WITH EXPERIENCE AND SOME WITHOUT EXPERIENCE, BUT WE WANTED PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND WE WANTED PEOPLE TO REALLY EXPRESS HOW THEY FELT. SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT VARIATIONS OF THE ARTWORK. SOME MIGHT BE VERY GRAPHIC AND MIGHT BE DISTURBING AND THAT'S OKAY WITH US BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ANGRY AND TO TAKE ACTION.

VAL>> EXACTLY RIGHT. VICTORIA DELGADILLO AND RIGO MALDONADO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR KEEPING THIS ISSUE ALIVE.

RIGO MALDONADO>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

VICTORIA DELGADILLO>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING US.

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
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LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
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JESS>> WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL, SHE HAD NO IDEA WHO HER BIRTH PARENTS WERE, BUT THEN JETT WILLIAMS FOUND THAT SHE HAD A SPECIAL TALENT FOR MUSIC AND ALL THE HIDDEN PIECES OF HER LIFE BEGAN COMING TOGETHER.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> SOON ENOUGH, SHE DISCOVERED MUSICAL TALENT RUNS IN THE FAMILY. THAT'S WHEN JETT LEARNED HER FATHER WAS THE LEGENDARY HANK WILLIAMS WHO DIED FIVE DAYS BEFORE SHE WAS BORN.

VAL>> JETT TELLS HER REMARKABLE STORY IN A BOOK CALLED "AIN'T NOTHIN' AS SWEET AS MY BABY: THE STORY OF HANK WILLIAMS' LOST DAUGHTER" AND JETT WILLIAMS JOINS US NOW. WHAT A STORY! IF IT WERE IN A MOVIE, YOU'D SAY, OH, COME ON (LAUGHTER).

JETT WILLIAMS>> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, I TELL PEOPLE IF I MADE IT UP, IT WOULDN'T BE THAT GOOD (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) SUMMARIZE IT FOR US A BIT FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T HEARD.

JETT WILLIAMS>> WELL, I GREW UP AS AN ADOPTED CHILD AND I WENT ON A SEARCH TO FIND OUT WHO I WAS AND WHAT HAPPENED. WHAT IS REMARKABLE IS THAT HANK WILLIAMS WAS MY FATHER, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WAS THAT MY DADDY WANTED ME.

VAL>> NOW HE DIED FIVE DAYS --

JETT WILLIAMS>> I WAS BORN FIVE DAYS AFTER HIS DEATH.

JESS>> BUT HE HAD LEFT INSTRUCTIONS, ALMOST A WILL, THAT SAID HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF YOU.

JETT WILLIAMS>> THREE MONTHS BEFORE I WAS BORN, MY DAD WENT TO HIS ATTORNEY AND HE HAD A PRE-BIRTH CUSTODY CONTRACT DRAWN UP, THREE PAGES CONCERNING MAYBE BECAUSE MY PARENTS WERE NOT MARRIED. IN THIS DOCUMENT, HE GOT FULL CUSTODY OF ME AND SAYS THE DADDY WILL TAKE CARE OF THE BABY, BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE AND THE BABY WILL LIVE WITH THE FATHER. HE JUST DIDN'T COUNT ON DYING AT TWENTY-NINE.

FROM THERE, MY NATURAL MOTHER LET MY GRANDMOTHER, HANK WILLIAMS' MOTHER, ADOPT ME. I LIVED WITH HER FOR TWO YEARS AND, WHEN I WAS TWO, SHE PASSED AWAY. NOW THE FAMILY WHO SAID THEY WOULD KEEP ME IN THE EVENT OF HER DEATH PUT ME UP FOR ADOPTION. I BECAME A WARD OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA. I WENT TO A FOSTER HOME, THEN I WAS LATER ADOPTED.

VAL>> BASICALLY, THEY WANTED YOU OUT OF THE FAMILY.

JETT WILLIAMS>> ABSOLUTELY.

JESS>> AND FOR FINANCIAL REASONS?

JETT WILLIAMS>> ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> SO YOU ENDED UP IN FOSTER CARE AND WAS EVENTUALLY ADOPTED JUST BY A FAMILY THAT WOULD --

JETT WILLIAMS>> -- WELL, ANOTHER FAMILY TOOK ME AND I LIVED WITH THEM. IT GETS A LITTLE COMPLICATED BECAUSE, WHEN I WAS ADOPTED BY MY GRANDMOTHER, I WAS ELEVATED TO HER DAUGHTER, AND MY AUNT SUES ME. SO HERE I AM A TWO-YEAR-OLD WITH A LAWSUIT AROUND HER NECK. I ENDED UP IN OUR COURTS AT A VERY EARLY AGE, BUT THAT ALSO LED TO THE POINT TO WHERE, WHEN I TURNED TWENTY-ONE, MY ADOPTIVE MOTHER TOLD ME THERE MIGHT BE THE POSSIBILITY THAT I MIGHT BE THE DAUGHTER --

VAL>> -- BECAUSE BY THIS TIME, YOU HAD LOST CONNECTIONS WITH YOUR IDENTITY, YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONNECTIONS --

JETT WILLIAMS>> -- I KNEW THAT I WAS ADOPTED BECAUSE, WHEN I WENT THE LAST TIME, I WAS THREE YEARS OLD. I CALLED IT THE BLACK HOLE BECAUSE I HAD NO FRAME OF REFERENCE, THERE WERE NO PICTURES, THERE WASN'T ANYTHING. SO I WENT ON THE SEARCH TO FIND OUT WHO I WAS AND WHAT HAPPENED. OF COURSE, I HIT EVERY BRICK WALL EVERY ADOPTED CHILD DOES ON THE SEARCH. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO MEET A MAN BY THE NAME OF KEITH ADKINSON, WHO IS AN INVESTIGATIVE ATTORNEY. HE WAS ABLE TO HELP ME PROVE THAT I WAS THE DAUGHTER.

WHEN I HAD THAT DOCUMENT THAT YOU REFERRED TO, I MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT AND I GOT SUED AND IT LANDED ME INTO THE COURTS. IT WAS NOT JUST AGAINST HANK WILLIAMS, JR., BUT IT WAS OPRY LAND, WARNER BROS., ALL THE BIG BUSINESS IN THE MUSIC WORLD. SO IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU ALL THAT A LITTLE PERSON CAN GO UP AGAINST BIG BUSINESS AND YOU CAN RIGHT WRONG AND THAT OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM DOES WORK.

JESS>> PART OF THE FACT THAT YOUR FATHER DIED AT SUCH AN EARLY AGE, AGE TWENTY-NINE, HIS LEGACY ALSO INCLUDED A LOT OF ROYALTIES.

JETT WILLIAMS>> YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THE ROYALTIES AND THE COPYRIGHTS, THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS. NOT ONLY WAS I TO BENEFIT FROM THE COPYRIGHTS, I OWNED THE COPYRIGHTS THAT THE COMPANIES SAID THEY OWNED. SO YOU'RE REALLY GETTING INTO A LEGAL, ESPECIALLY IN THE MUSIC WORLD. BUT WHAT HAPPENED, THE COURTS RULED THAT I WAS THE DAUGHTER.

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED WAS THEY HAD KEPT MY FATHER'S ESTATE OPEN PAST MY TWENTY-FIRST BIRTHDAY, RAN THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON ME AND NEVER NOTIFIED ME. LETTERS WERE TURNED OVER DURING THE LEGAL PROCESS THING "ARE YOU SURE SHE CAN'T FIND OUT?, DON'T YOU THINK WE SHOULD PAY HER?" THE FAMOUS LETTER SAID, "NO, LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE." SO THE COURTS RULED THAT I WAS DEFRAUDED AND THAT THEY CONCEALED MY IDENTITY FROM ME, NOT FOR MY PROTECTION, BUT FOR THEIR FINANCIAL GAIN.

JESS>> AND KEITH ADKINSON WAS THE KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR.

JETT WILLIAMS>> HE WAS MY KNIGHT IN A THREE-PIECE SUIT. I HIRED HIM AS MY ATTORNEY AND THEN WE MARRIED.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) SO A HAPPY ENDING TO THE STORY.

JETT WILLIAMS>> IT'S A CINDERELLA STORY.

VAL>> AN AMAZING STORY. WE WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE A LITTLE REMINDER OF YOUR LEGENDARY FATHER. WE HAVE A CLIP HERE NOW OF HANK WILLIAMS SINGING. LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> YOU WERE ALMOST BORN WITH A GUITAR IN YOUR HANDS TOO. WHEN YOU WERE LIVING WITH YOUR PATERNAL GRANDMOTHER, YOU HAD A GUITAR, DIDN'T YOU?

JETT WILLIAMS>> THERE WAS A PHOTO THAT WAS TURNED OVER TO ME AS AN ADULT. THERE I AM SITTING ON THE FRONT PORCH OF MY DAD'S HOME, BAREFOOTED WITH A GUITAR AND A COWBOY HAT ON (LAUGHTER). BUT ALSO IN MY ADOPTION RECORDS, WHICH I DID GET FROM THE STATE OF ALABAMA, WHICH I WAS VERY FORTUNATE, ONE OF THE ENTRIES FROM THE SOCIAL WORKER SAID, "MRS. WILLIAMS HAS THE CHILD PERFORMING ON HER DINING ROOM TABLE AND SHE'S SINGING 'YOUR CHEATING HEART'." I THINK I WAS PROBABLY TRYING TO. BUT MUSIC HAS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE EVER SINCE I WAS BORN AND I'M VERY PROUD TO BE THE DAUGHTER OF HANK WILLIAMS, BUT ALSO TO CARRY ON HIS LEGACY.

JESS>> AND FOLLOWING SOME OF THE SAME VENUES. GRAND OLE OPRY?

JETT WILLIAMS>> OH, GRAND OLE OPRY, I'VE PERFORMED AT THE RHINELANDER, BUT ONE OF THE REAL TREATS WAS THE LOUISIANA HAYRIDE, WHICH IS NO LONGER IN EXISTENCE, BUT THEY OPENED IT UP FOR THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY AND I WAS INVITED TO BE A PART OF THAT. SO THAT WAS A REAL THRILL TO BE ABLE TO WALK ON THOSE STAGES WHERE MY DAD PERFORMED AND TO SING SOME OF HIS MUSIC WITH HIS FANS.

VAL>> AND WE SHOULD NOTE THAT THIS JANUARY IS GOING TO BE THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR FATHER'S DEATH, I BELIEVE, AND THE EIGHTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS --

JETT WILLIAMS>> -- BIRTHDAY.

VAL>> SO A LOT OF HANK WILLIAMS IS GOING TO BE SEEN.

JETT WILLIAMS>> I THINK IT WILL BE THE YEAR OF THE HANK (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) AND YOUR STORY IS GOING TO BE A MOVIE, IS THAT RIGHT?

JETT WILLIAMS>> ABSOLUTELY. A WONDERFUL LADY BY THE NAME OF SUZANNE DE PASSE DID "LONESOME DOVE" AND "THE TEMPTATIONS". SHE BOUGHT THE RIGHTS TO MY STORY. KEITH ADKINSON, MY HUSBAND, AND I ARE WORKING WITH HER AND, HOPEFULLY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET EVERYTHING PUT TOGETHER AND HAVE THE JETT WILLIAMS STORY OUT THERE IN THE YEAR OF THE HANK.

JESS>> WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. OUR THANKS TO JETT WILLIAMS. THE BOOK IS CALLED "AIN'T NOTHIN' AS SWEET AS MY BABY: THE STORY OF HANK WILLIAMS' LOST DAUGHTER".

VAL>> AND WE'VE CREATED A SPECIAL LOCATION, BY THE WAY, ON OUR WEBSITE WITH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GAY YEE'S THREE-PART FARM WORKERS SERIES. YOU CAN FIND IT AT KCET.ORG.

JESS>> AND THAT'S TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANK YOU AND GOODNIGHT.

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