Premieres Tues., Oct. 6 at 8 PT

Los Angeles – KCET is set to premiere the documentary entitled 187: The Rise Of The Latino Vote. The 90-minute film, chronicles Proposition 187, a California ballot measure passed in 1994 that sought to deny public services to undocumented immigrants. The outrage of the Latino community, in-retrospect lead to a political awakening of this powerful group that took action that would dramatically change the state’s electoral politics, transforming the state into a Blue and progressive state for the first time. 187: The Rise Of The Latino Vote premieres in Southern California on Tues., Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. PT on KCET and encores on Thurs., Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal, as well as Sun., Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT on Link TV nationwide (Dish Network 9410 and DirecTV 375). The documentary will also be airing in the San Francisco area on Fri., Oct 9 at 8 p.m. PT on KQED and in the Sacramento area on Thurs., Oct 29 at 8 p.m. PT on KVIE.

This pivotal moment in California history unfolds through more than 20 interviews with major political figures, artists, and thinkers from across the state including California State Senator Maria Elena Durazo, former California State Senator and current LA City Councilmember Gil Cedillo, former California State Senate President pro tempore and LA City Councilmember-elect Kevin de León, Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund (MALDEF) president Thomas Saenz, California State Assembly speaker emeritus Fabian Núñez, the first Latina in history to be elected to the California State Legislature Gloria Molina, former California State Senate Majority leader and member of the California State Assembly Richard Polanco and more.

This important documentary stemmed from Somos California (“We Are California”), a group of Latino leaders in Southern California originally formed to coordinate activities commemorating 25 years since the passage of Proposition 187. The overarching goal of this committee and project is two-fold: 1) generating awareness around the 25th Anniversary of Prop 187 – its passage,  repeal, and impact – and 2) utilizing lessons learned 25 years ago to drive action and civic participation today. Somos California has since continued its work by focusing on emerging issues affecting California’s Latino communities.  

This program was made possible in part by We Are CA, Somos CA Committee with funding provided by LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Eastside Arts Initiative, California Community Foundation, Weingart Foundation, and the Eli and Edythe broad foundation.

 Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag: #Prop187