FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Skylight 

Pamela Yates •  (718) 797-3125 • [email protected]

Free Speech TV Contact

Nina Henderson Moore • (303) 542-4825 • [email protected]

Skylight and Free Speech TV to Host National Screening of Takeover

Denver, CO, May 19, 2020 —  On Thursday, May 21, 2020, at 8:00 pm ET,  Skylight and Free Speech TV (FSTV) will host a nationwide virtual screening of Takeover on Free Speech TV (DISH 9415, DIRECTV 348, and stream on Roku, Apple TV, Sling TV and at freespeech.org) and on FB Live with a conversation with the filmmaker, Peter Kinoy, and a panel of leading organizers of the National Union of the Homeless – Kristen Coangelo, Anthony Prince and Alicia Kuhl.  

On May 1st, 1990, homeless people in eight cities around the country seized empty (HUD) federal housing simultaneously. It was the first national coordinated homeless housing takeover ever. Skylight Pictures followed the takeovers with 12 crews in the eight cities, documenting the secret planning, the illegal occupations, and the hopeful aftermath of this bold endeavor. An official selection of the Sundance Film Festival, and broadcast on PBS on the P.O.V. series, the film was released theatrically at The Film Forum in New York City.

“The takeovers of the 1990s were a direct result of growing poverty and homelessness. Now 30 years later, conditions are even worse.  The current pandemic has made every social problem sharper, more urgent, and more visible.  Even before the current pandemic forced us to ‘pause’ there were 140 million Americans living in poverty or paycheck to paycheck. In these present conditions, the National Union of the Homeless has been reborn, with chapters in dozens of cities.  The creativity, courage and organization of the homeless leaders in Takeover is a lesson and inspiration for millions of us facing very difficult economic times ahead.  As the organizers said back in 1990 ‘we only get what we are organized to take.’”   Peter Kinoy, Filmmaker

The panelists for the discussion immediately following the screening include – 

• Kristin Coangelo – Dir. of Membership, Organizer, National Secretary National Union of the Homeless 
• Peter Kinoy –  Documentary Filmmaker and Producer/Editor of Takeover
• Anthony Prince – National Lead Organizer, General Counsel of the National Union of the Homeless  and General Counsel of the California Union of the Homeless 
• Alicia Kuhl –  President of the Santa Cruz Homeless Union.  

 “Free Speech TV is committed to shining a national spotlight on our neighbors organizing on the frontlines of systemic change,”  says Jon Stout, Co-founder and Acting Executive Director Free Speech TV.  “As homelessness explodes across our communities, the National Union of the Homeless is leading the way toward creative and equitable solutions. Takeover offers important lessons for today’s organizers, and we hope the post-screening panel will yield a dynamic conversation about how to tailor strategies to our new COVID realities. We look forward to the panelists’ interaction with our viewers.”

Virtual Screening and panel discussion are scheduled as follows (ET)

• Thursday, May 21, 2020  – 8 pm ET on Free Speech TV.  Virtual screening with a live panel discussion immediately following. Register here to join the virtual screening and panel discussion or join on FB @freespeechtv: 
• Takeover Broadcast only schedule (ET) – 
  • Fri, 05/22/2020 – 3:30 am
  • Sat, 05/23/2020 – 3:00 pm 
  • Sat, 05/23/2020 – 10:00 pm
  • Wed, 05/27/2020 – 8:30 pm
  • Thu, 05/28/2020 – 1:00 am
  • Fri, 05/29/2020 – 4:00 am
  • Sun, 05/31/2020 –  11:00 pm 

About Skylight 

Skylight is a  human rights media organization dedicated to amplifying the voice of constituencies battling for social justice and their rights. By combining the storytelling arts with human rights media strategies, Skylight has become a part of battles for the narrative in movements around the world. Whether it’s a film, digital platform, mobile tool, print article, educational workshop, or a documentary screening kit, it’s the story that is paramount to Skylight.

About Free Speech TV

Free Speech TV is a national, independent, nonprofit news network committed to advancing progressive social change. As the alternative to media networks owned by billionaires, governments and corporations, Free Speech TV elevates unique perspectives through daily news programs, independent documentaries and special events coverage. 

Free Speech TV reaches more than 38 million households nationally on DISH (channel 9415), DIRECTV (348), Sling TV, and over 150 community cable affiliates. FSTV is available on-demand and streaming on Roku,  Apple TV and  freespeech.org;  and maintains an active presence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Free Speech TV believes a more just and democratic world is possible when the media empowers people with the information they need to fight for what matters.