Speech and Testimony
County Executive Leggett’s Remarks for Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
American Film Institute Latin American Film Festival Closing Night and Celebration
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910
As prepared
Good evening! Welcome to AFI and Silver Spring as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!
Congratulations to AFI and organizers on your closing night and your 28th edition of the AFI Latin American Film Festival!
We are here celebrating the arts and culture of the Latino and Hispanic community of Montgomery County and the region!
At the same time, we celebrate and recognize the day-to-day and tremendous contributions of the Latino community that make our County special and unique – a welcoming, inclusive, diverse and united community. We will continue to be one of the most welcoming community in the nation!
As we are getting ready to watch “Woodpeckers” – the final film of the Latin American Film Festival; a film about young people with dreams, love and prison - one can also think of what is happening here at the federal level with Immigration, our youth, DREAMERs and TPS holders and their ambiguous future.
We must remember that immigration is a humanitarian challenge.
We must ensure – by reaching out to our congressional elected officials - that we pass a bipartisan legislation for DREAMERs and TPS who are among the more-than 1.2 million people who call this country home.
We must make our voices heard on their behalf because they came here as children, or have been here for more than 20 years, and deserve the right to be able to study, work, play, and live here freely with their families and continue strengthening our diverse communities and nation.
These people are our neighbors, friends, family, employees, employers, entrepreneurs, restaurateurs with delicious food, and our future professionals in ALL fields!
They are the people we honor today. They are the people who will help us make a brighter and better tomorrow.
Now, let’s continue with the celebration and a proclamation to AFI. Thank you; enjoy the film; and have a great evening!
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October 4; 7:30 p.m.