February 3, 2007
Los Angeles, CA -- "Border Echoes-Ecos De Una Frontera," the only documentary to tell the story of the slayings of girls and women in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, through the eyes of investigative reporter Diana Washington Valdez, is set for theatrical screening at 7 p.m., September 27, at the Laemmle Sunset 5, 8000 Sunset Boulevard, in West Hollywood.
A journalist in El Paso, Texas
Washington Valdez, put her life on the line to expose the high-level corruption that she believes has protected the killers. She contends that serial killers, drug dealers, violent gangs, a group of powerful and copycat killers are among the suspects who are still at large. Among other things, the film examines the social conditioning that has propagated a culture of violence against women, which has resulted in increasing numbers of murders of women in other parts of Mexico, too.
News Brief El Paso Times 10-05-2006
Times reporter receives Hispanic Caucus award
El Paso Times staff writer Diana Washington Valdez received the Latina Leader Award in Media by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in Washington, D.C., announced Esther Aguilera, the institute president and CEO. "We admire the courage of those who take a risk and try new things in their fields," Aguilera said. Washington Valdez was singled out for her coverage of the Juárez women's murders through newspaper stories and the nonfiction book "Harvest of Women." During a ceremony Monday, the caucus recognized several women in science, cultural arts, media, sports, leadership and environmental justice.
"Intolerable Killings"
The film, in English, chronicles the chilling story of the deaths that Amnesty International called "Intolerable Killings" in its 2003 report on Ciudad Juarez. Some victims were as young as 5 and 6 years old, and the majority of the victims were teenagers and young women. Although numerous suspects are in custody, activists and families of victims believe the Mexican authorities have not solved most of the crimes. The film explains why the murders are likely to continue. It also provides previously unreported and shocking details about the murders.