Speakers discuss life of political prisoner

'Silence equals Death.' A powerful statement proclaimed by filmmaker and political activist Margo Pelletier about why she decided to maker her first feature length documentary, SILVIA.

Presented by the New Films and Filmmakers on Thursday night at the Nevada Museum of Art, Pelletier, producer Lisa Thomas and a number of speakers from the University of Nevada, Reno gathered to view and discuss the controversial and revolutionary life of political prisoner Silvia Baraldini.

"This story is very personal and also much bigger than myself," said Pelletier. "Silvia's life was so extraordinary, her life became a vehicle for expressing what we're taking for granted."

The film relived the turbulent days of the Black Power movement through the 1960s, '70s and '80s.

At 14, Baraldini left Italy with her family and moved to the United States in 1961. As a political activist, she became active in both the Black Panther Party and the Puerto Rican Independence Movement. In 1973, Assata Shakur, fellow Black Panther and member of the Black Liberation Army, was arrested after being accused of involvement in the murder of a New Jersey state trooper. In 1979, Shakur escaped from prison with the help of her brother, Mutulu Shakur, Silvia Baraldini and others. She later resurfaced in Cuba. In 1983, Baraldini was convicted for her part Shakur's escape and was sentenced to 43 years in prison. In 1999, Baraldini was transferred to a prison in Rome to finish out her sentence, where she remained until September 2006, when a Pardon Law took effect in Italy, and Baraldini was released.

After the screening, Paul Mitchell, advisor at the Reynolds School of Journalism, moderated the questions for the filmmakers and speakers.

"It's very important that these people went out and created this story," Mitchell said. "As an African American man, I respect what they did, and I applaud them."

The word "terrorist" has been applied to Silvia Baraldini for decades, and for Pelletier and Thomas, it was time for this label to end.

"The real question is what is terrorism?" Pelletier said. "What are terrorists? You should be able to feel a flesh and blood human and tell for yourself. Silvia had said that the most important thing was to protect civilians."

Joseba Zulaika, professor of Basque Studies at the UNR, talked about terrorism.

"The film really brings question to these simplistic morals of good and evil," he said. "This violence has easily been labeled as terrorist. When you act you don't know the results you may endure.

"Silvia took that risk and was called a terrorist. She was treated as the other, an enemy. I think that's what this film does to the subject and it brings forth much reflection."

The U.S. Code for an 'act of terrorism' is an activity that involves a violent act or an act dangerous of human life that is a violation of the criminal laws of the United States.

Pelletier paraphrased the definition of terrorism, as given by political activist and philosopher Noam Chomsky: "When one nation tries to force its form of government onto another nation."

"The United States government never calls its own acts of terrorism: terrorism," Pelletier said. "It's a double standard and its very ambiguous. We now live in a culture in love with violence."

"I believe that protest is democratic," said Lieutenant Colonel Scott Maryott, a UNR professor of military science. "Upon joining the military, I have given up my right to protest. You make sacrifices and challenges in which you have to give somethings up.

"Movies like this are so important. It shows that people really do have a voice and that's so powerful," producer Lisa Thomas said. "There's a reason most people don't know about the story. I felt the story had to get out there or no one was going to hear it."

The panel mentioned a number of times about Baraldini and Assata Shakur's invisibility in textbooks and lectures.

"That name (Baraldini) was scarce." Emma Sepulveda, the director of the Latino Research Center at UNR, said. "The history of this country has bowled over the lives of these people and it's not getting better."

Geralda Miller, a masters student in history and race and ethnicity at the University of Nevada, Reno spoke on the inspiration the film gives.

“There are many Silvias out there who didn't have a voice until this film,” said Miller. “They do now and I appreciate it.”

Baraldini will be 60 this year and is working in Italy to save money for a trip to Africa with her boyfriend.

Pelletier believes that film making is a political action. “I can't be a good American or human being and ignore who and what i know.”

The Photo:

From left to right: Reynolds School of Journalism advisor and professor, Paul Mitchell, Professor of Basque Studies Joseba Zulaika, Professor of Military Studies Lt. Scott Maryott, Film maker and politcal activist Margo Pelletier, the film's producer Lisa Thomas, Master Student of race and ethnicity Geralda Miller, and Emma Sepulveda, director of the Latino Research Center at UNR.

(alexis Gray/RGJ)