Thai Community Development Center
Event
Fifteen years ago, 72 lives pursuing the American Dream found themselves living a seven year nightmare in a garment factory turned slaveshop
This is a true story about the very first modern day slavery in the U.S. and about the resiliency of the human spirit
But yet, stories of this kind have NOT ENDED today...
ABOUT FABRIC
In the pre-dawn light of August 2, 1995, state and federal officials raided an El Monte, CA apartment complex and discovered
72 Thai nationals held in virtual slavery. The shock of this modern-day crime echoed throughout the country, and even the
world. The plight of the workers, their freedom and their dignity eventually rested in the hands of countless attorneys,
community activists, and the fervent advocacy of the Thai Community Development Center (Thai CDC).
This summer, 15 years after that eventful day, Company of Angels, Los Angeles' oldest not-for-profit repertory theater, in
association with Thai CDC, will present "Fabric," a play by award-winning local playwright Henry Ong, that is inspired by the
experiences of the El Monte Thai garment workers.
WHEN?
"Fabric," running from July 8 through August 8 officially kicks off the 15th anniversary celebration of this momentous event in
the annals of sweatshop history.
Coming Up:
- Regular performance on every Fri, Sat and Sun until August 8
- Friday, July 23, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, at the California Endowment, Anti-Slavery Symposium: After El Monte, Where Do We Go? (free admission)
- Sunday, August 1, 4 pm to 6 pm, at the Alexandria Hotel, Eve of Slavery Compound Raid Panel Discussion, meeting with real personnel invovled in the El Monte Case and the compound raid on August 2, 1995
WHERE?
Company of Angels
inside The Black Box at The Alexandria
501 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013
HOW TO GET INVOLVED?
Sponsorship Opportunity - Adopt a Quilt (tax-deductable)
Purchase an Ad in the Program Booklet (the program booklet will reach about 1,500 members of the public)
Make a Donation to support Thai CDC's work (tax-deductable)
WHY SHOULD WE CARE?
Unlike other trafficking crimes (drug trafficking and gun smuggling), human trafficking has, unknowingly, become part our
daily lives and we might even be the very cause of it, the fastest growing international crime and the second largest crime
only topped by drug trafficking...(click here to read more)
WHERE YOUR DOLLARS GO?
Being the only Thai organization that addresses the persistent problem of human trafficking from Thailand into the
U.S., Thai CDC has helped over 2,000 Thais pursue justice and restore their lives in the past 15 years.
Every $10,000 can help Thai CDC assist 50 trafficked victims with shelter, medical care, and public benefits to restore their well-being
Every $10,000 will help Thai CDC fund a percentage of legal staff time to seek redress and restitution for the victims
Every $5,000 will help Thai CDC launch an anti-human trafficking campaign to identify victims, raise the public's awareness, or launch a campaign in Thailand to prevent vulnerable individuals from being victimized
Click here to see Thai CDC's anti-human trafficking program
INFORMATION IN THAI
Click here to find information about the play in Thai