Austin airing human rights film

Published 12:25 pm Thursday, February 17, 2011

The weather can’t keep the Austin Human Rights Commission down.

Austin’s HRC will present “Welcome to Shelbyville,” a documentary on immigration in a southern community at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18 at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre at Riverland Community College.

“Welcome to Shelbyville” is a film currently on tour around the nation which shows how a community in southeast Tennessee dealt with racial, immigration and religious issues.

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“It’s another opportunity to continue dialogue about the city of Austin and its residents,” said Kirsten Lindbloom, chairwoman of the HRC. “it’s important for us to continue to talk about and highlight issues in our commmunity.”

The HRC had originally scheduled the film to be shown Dec. 10, but the event was cancelled due to threatening weather conditions. A Dec. 11 snowstorm paralyzed much of the Midwest, with Austin getting 12 inches amidst a record snowstorm.

There will be a discussion after the film led by HRC members.