Transcripts For KQED PBS NewsHour 20170314

Its about discrimination and its about we mexicans being a target for so many years. Woodruff all that and more on tonights pbs newshour. Major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by i want the feel pride as a citizen of this country when were in a place like this. And with the ongoing support of these institutions this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. And by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Woodruff its less than a week to go before the official start of spring, but you wouldnt have known it today in the northeast. A blizzard grounded more than 6,000 flights, shuttered schools and claimed at least one life. John yang has our report. Yang from western pennsylvania to new england, snow fell at a furious pace. This timelapse video shows it piling up in new york state. After daylight savings time, i wouldnt have expected a storm like this. It kind of feels more like january than it does march. Yang wind gusts of more than 70 up to 50 miles an hour sent waves pounding into the shore from delaware to massachusetts. Good day to make brownies is my point, and or read a book. Yang Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy banned all but emergency travel so plows could do their work in near whiteout conditions. This is new england, were used to handling snow. But when you get predictions of 18 to 30 inches with potentially 4, 5 or 6inch snowfalls in an hour, thats when you have to act. Yang boston was on track for up to 18 inches. Schools there were closed, as they were in cities like philadelphia and new york. That left thousands of kids with a day to play. Even fourlegged frolickers got in the act. For air travellers, it was anything but a holiday. Southwest airlines, which flies more domestic passengers than any other carrier, cancelled all flights at 14 airports from portland, maine to washington, d. C. Thousands of people were stranded, like this new bride from britain. Were here on honeymoon and we flew to new york and we got here fine but now were stuck here on our way to orlando. We cant get a flight out until tomorrow, now. Were hoping to get a hotel room but at the moment there arent any. Yang n. C. A. A. Tournament bound basketball teams and fans had to change plans to get to march madness games later this week. Amtrak suspended or modified rail service along the busy northeast corridor. Nearly a quartermillion customers lost power. New york city was spared the worst as the arctic blast shifted north and west, bringing less snow and more pelting sleet. Mother nature is an unpredictable lady sometimes. She was unpredictable once again today. Yang the Nations Capital also got less than expected, allowing federal agencies to open on a three hour delay. For the pbs newshour, im john yang. Woodruff in the days other news, the commandant of the u. S. Marine corps faced a grilling today, over a scandal involving nude photos of female members being shared online. General Robert Neller pledged to fix the problem and culture that led to the scandal. But female senators, in particular, said theyd heard it all before, including new york democrat kirsten gillibrand. When you say to us its got to be different. That rings hollow. I dont know what you mean when you say that. Why does it have to be different. Because you all of a sudden feel that it has to be different . Who has been held accountable . I dont have a good answer for you. Im not going to sit here and duck around this thing. Im not. Im responsible. Im the commandant. I own this. Thats a lame answer but maam thats the best i can tell you right now. Woodruff the general acknowledged the scandal may hurt the marine Corps Efforts to recruit women. The European Unions highest court ruled today that employers may bar muslim women from wearing headscarves on the job. The ruling says thats allowed, so long as the ban is part of a company policy, and not a sign of prejudice. Its a response to cases brought by two women, one belgian, one french. Both were fired for refusing to remove their headscarves at work. The u. N. Human Rights Office is demanding that the Syrian Government release tens of thousands of prisoners. In a statement today, the agencys head said . The entire country has become a torturechamber; a place of savage horror and absolute injustice. In the past, syria has denied allegations of systematic torture in its prisons. It had no direct response today. In iraq, Government Troops pushed deeper into western mosul, and killed a key Islamic State commander. Military leaders now say its only a matter of time before they crush the remaining isis fighters in iraqs second largest city. John irvine of independent Television News reports from the front lines. Reporter rolling back the Islamic State has been tortuous. The fighting here is intense and brutal. Advances made by the iraqi army have been slow and the extent of the damage being wrought by this inch by inch battle for a city is simply appalling. In 2014, the iraqi army lost mosul in six hours. Getting it all back is going to take them at least six months. The battle for eastern mosul lasted 100 days and it cost the iraqi army at least 500 dead. They want to limit the casualties this side of the river in western mosul and to that end, theyre using far more ordnance, artillery, and air strikes like the one youve just heard. I. S. Can also strike from the air. That was a grenade dropped close to us by one of their drones. This cropaganda video appears to confirm the commitment of their fighters here in mosul. It also shows they are far from running short on ammunition. No quarter is being given or asked for. Are they good fighters . Actually they fight, they fight, they fight, they fight. But we have also good fighters reporter mosul museum today was rubble. This where i. S. Sledgehammered history. And while much of what they bludgeoned was replica stuff, some priceless artifacts were destroyed here. Now the museum is on the frontline of more history being made. And the records will show that the battle of mosul was one of the most brutal urban fights the world has ever seen. Much of the place is uninhabitable and as the advance continues, more districts are being abandoned. As they fled today, they can only have been wondering what will be left of mosul to return to. Woodruff more than 200,000 mosul residents have been displaced since the start of the Iraqi Government offensive, in october. Pirates today seized an oil tanker off the coast of somalia, the first such hijacking since 2012. The aris 13, manned by sri lankan sailors, was carrying fuel from djibouti to the somalian capital of mogadishu. The pirates forced it to sail to a port town near the countrys tip. A ransom demand is expected. Authorities in mexico say theyve found more than 250 skulls in what appears to be a drug cartel burial ground. A prosecutor confirms the hidden site was discovered on the outskirts of veracruz. Only onethird of the site has been excavated, opening the possibility of more victims to be found. Back in this country, the new head of medicaid and medicare was sworn in today, as lawmakers grapple with the governments role in health care. Vice president pence administered the oath of office to seema verma. Shed been working as a Health Care Consultant in indiana. Meanwhile, the nominee to be u. S. Trade representative, robert lighthizer, had his Senate Confirmation hearing. He argued for an America First trade policy. On wall street today, another slide in oil prices pulled stocks lower again. The Dow Jones Industrial average lost 44 points to close at 20,837. The nasdaq fell almost 19 points, and the s p 500 slipped eight. And, goodyear said goodbye to an icon today. In predawn darkness, the last of the companys blimps was decommissioned and deflated in carson, california. Goodyear began flying blimps more than 90 years ago. The tire company is shifting to semirigid dirigibles that are larger and faster in providing aerial Television Coverage at major sports and entertainment events. Still to come on the newshour the political battle to repeal and replace obamacare. The first major test for europes far right as the dutch head to the polls. What School Choice looks like in the Vice President s home state of indiana, and much more. Woodruff leading republicans in the house are hoping to pass their obamcare replacement bill by the end of the month. But the new estimates from the Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office yesterday may have complicated that timeline. For some of the partys conservatives, the bill still has too much of the Affordable Care act left in it. For some of its moderates, the number of people the bill would not provide coverage for is cause for alarm. Today, the white house and some leading republicans left the door open to change. From both ends of pennsylvania avenue today, talk of amending the House Republican health care bill. Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell spoke at the capitol. Itll be open to amendment in senate, like all reconciliation bills are, were anxious to get past the status quo. Woodruff at almost the same time, white house Spokesman Sean Spicer also sounded a note of compromise. If you can come with a good idea that will strengthen this bill that will benefit american patients we will do it. Woodruff all of this, after mondays report from the Congressional Budget Office. The c. B. O. Says the g. O. P. Plan would leave 14 million fewer people insured by next year, and a total of 24 million fewer by 2026. It would also bring savings that would cut federal deficits by 337 billion over that time frame. The white house sent out budget director Mick Mulvaney this morning to challenge the c. B. O. s estimates of the uninsured. I dont believe the facts are correct. Im saying that because of a track record of c. B. O. Being wrong before, and we believe theyre wrong now. Woodruff on the other hand, House Speaker paul ryan embraced the analysis, saying it exceeded his expectations. But hardline conservatives in ryans caucus, including Ohio Republican jim jordan, blamed him for rushing the bill through the house. This bill doesnt unite republicans, this bill doesnt bring down the cost of premiums. Woodruff several Senate Republicans also warned the bill needs reworking. Among them, north carolinas thom tillis the bill right now, we have questions that we have to have answered. Again, its not just about his house bill but series of things that we have to accomplish in the coming months to solve the problem of the failure of obamacare. Woodruff meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office figures bolstered democrats opposition to the bill. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer its vintage donald trump. He talks like a populist but when he acts its hard right favoring the special interests, and hurting the middle class and those trying to get there. Woodruff Democratic Leaders brought out people who said theyve benefited from obamacare. The solution is not to take away care, the solution is to find a better way of providing that care. Im not asking for something for free, im just trying to stay alive. Woodruff the g. O. P. Bill will next head to the house budget and rules committees. Joining me now, a conservative in the house and member of the freedom caucus, who has expressed reservations about the bill. Republican congressman ted yoho of florida. Representative yoho, welcome to the program. What are your reservations, and could you support the bill as it is right now . Thanks, judy, for having me. My reservations are many. I like the direction were moving in, but i could not support the bill as it is right now. Woodruff why not . There are several things. One is the refundable tax credits. What that means is the government has to take money from us, the taxpayers, its a government program. And what ive seen in the Government Programs in my short time up here but being a citizen for almost 62 years come april is a government program, they tend to get bigger and bigger and theyre less efficient. And any time you give control to the government, it costs more money and theyre less efficient. I think weve seen this over and over again. Woodruff let me ask you about that. One of the other things is a work requirement for able bodied citizens without dependents, that theyre either looking for work or theyre getting work or theyre getting reeducated or doing community service. I think this is a must. If not youre going to have growth of people on the medicaid system. Woodruff well, i want to ask you about what you mentioned first, the refundable tax creditor because speaker ryan, as you may know, is arguing that thats not an entitlement. He says letting people keep more of their own money and doing what they want with it is not an entitlement. He said its simply letting them have the freedom to purchase a plan that they feel is best without the government forcing them to buy insurance. Well, i agree with getting rid of the mandates because, again, it goes back to if government can mandate what you have to do, and then they fine you with a fee for not doing it, what else can they do in the future . You know, if the government says you should do this or that . Im all in favor of having people keep more of their money. Im in favor of the tax credit, not the refundable ones that go back the buying insurance or going into Peoples Health savings account. Again, im okay with the tax credits where you can write off the cost of your Health Insurance if youre an individual, because thats insent sliding people to do that which we want them to be, and thats to be responsible for their health care. Woodruff do you think this bill could be changed, amended, in the direction that youre concerns are . Im asking because in the senate the concerns seem to be in the other direction, senator tom cotton, a republican from arkansas, is saying he is worried that the bill doesnt cover enough people who need care. In other words, the pushes and pull seem to be in the other direction. No, i think this bill will get amended. I think youll have a product that comes out of the house and the senate thats going to fulfill the needs that were trying to accomplish. I think we need to all step back for a molt. The Affordable Care act was full of good intentions but its collapsing on its own. If we did nothing, which the democrats dont want us to interfere, if we do nothing its going to collapse. And all these people that are on it are going to lose insurance. Our goal is to make sure everybody has access to health care, that its an Affordable Health care, but more importantly its Quality Health care. With the Affordable Care act, whats happened is all these people have been running to medicaid, and its been proven over and over, medicaid has the worst outcomes in the industrialized world as far as the quality of health care. This is not a way to go just the say we have Health Insurance, but its not good Health Insurance. We want quality Health Insurance that the american industries, the American Health care providers can provide. I feel better than anywhere else in the world. Woodruff congressman, there are a number of republican senators who are concerned about the loss of medicaid coverage. Well, again, i look five to ten years down the road. If we dont fix the underlying problems now, theres going to be a lot of people without basic coverage and needs. I mean, theyre talking about cutting Social Security 25 across the board within 12 years. Nobody wants that. And so if we dont get these things right and make the proper reforms now in the mandatory spending, this is going to be a disaster five to ten years down the road for all americans. So lets get this rite. Woodruff are you clear on where President Trump comes down on this . Has he reached out to you to ask for your support in. Hes not asked me personally, but being a member of the freedom caucus, were going to meet with him this week, and well meet with him in the future. These are things that. These are not Republican Issues or democratic issues that one side is trying to show which one can come up with the better plan. This is something thats going to affect all americans. We need to put whats best for america right now. Lets get that together. We invite buyins from the democrats to come on our side. We want the hear your issues instead of having a political debate and have everybody divided over this. Woodruff would the president be able to change your mind on this do you think . Im opening to listening to anybody. I look forward to that debate. Ill stand where i stand on my issues, and if somebody can convince me different, yeah, you know, im agreeable, im willing to compromise, but it has to be in the right direction. Woodruff im asking because at this point the president has signed off on the thing that you dont like, and this is those refundable tax credits. And this is the fact that there is no work reform in here. Well, ive also heard him say that hes open to a lot of suggestions, and that was one of the meetings were going the meet with him with the freedom caucus. As long as people are open to the dialogue, theyre willing to listen to other sides, thats where youll get your compromise. And this is something we have to do. Every republican in the house and the senate ran on repealing and replacing the Affordable Care act 100 . I can only think that were going to come together to accomplish that goal to get Quality Health care thats affordable for all americans. Woodruff but again, some of the opposition from republicans is coming from another direction. Congressman, i want to ask you about the ads being run in your Congressional District by the American Action network for this bill saying just what youve been saying, its time to go ahead and vote for repeal, to do it with this bill. Are those ads going to influence your vote . Not at all. Its a waste of money as far as im concerned. The people sent me up here. Im going into my third term. Weve taken a strong stance on this, and people sent me up here to go up here and fix this problem, not to fall down or, you know, placate to the other side. Were going to fix this and were going to get rid of the Affordable Care act, and we will replace it with common sense reforms that people have access to quality care. Thats affordable. Woodruff and its conservative republicans who are paying for those ads. Its a republican. If a republican paid for the ad, i dont know how conservative they are. Woodruff congressman ted yoho, republican of florida, thank you very much. Thank you. Judy, appreciate it. Woodruff just a note that the American Action network is a notforprofit group allied with the House Republican leadership; its running these ads for the Health Care Repeal bill in 30 Congressional Districts. Woodruff in the netherlands, voters head to the polls tomorrow, in europes first big, and closelywatched, election of the year. An ardent nationalist, running on an antiimmigrant agenda, is bidding for the Prime Ministers office, hoping to lead the way for similar candidates in france and germany. The election also comes amid an escalating war of words between the dutch government and turkey, over a referendum next month that could give president Recep Tayyip Erdogan vast new powers. Just today, erdogan accused dutch troops of complicity in the 1995 massacre of 8,000 Bosnian Muslims at srebenica, a charge which a dutch court had previously cleared. Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant traveled throughout holland for us, and brings us this report. Reporter convicted of inciting discrimination. Hes labeled moroccans as scum. One of europes most divisive politicians, Geert Wilders is hoping to emulate Donald Trumps anti establishment victory while maintaining a dutch veneer. Im no mr. Trump. I am my own man. So we are having a Dutch Campaign here about dutch issues and not about america. Reporter the would be Prime Ministers manifesto is only one page long. Its a full frontal attack on islam. It certainly is a threat. Its an existential threat. Im not talking about all the muslims, but the islamic ideology of violence of hate of submission and not of assimilation. And i believe islam and freedom are incompatible. So if we want to stay free countries also for our children and grandchildren in the future, we have to have less islam in our societies because the more it dominates and the stronger it becomes the less freedom we will have. Reporter this mosque in rotterdam is the countrys biggest. If wilders gets his way, every mosque will be closed down. The koran will be banned as will islamic scarves in public places. At friday prayers, Security Guard Rocalita Angelista celebrated his conversion to islam. According to a recent survey most dutch people estimated that 20 of the 17 million population were muslims. The true figure is six percent. You cannot change us. We are here and maybe we were not born here, but some of us, my son, my daughter, is born here, so they are dutch. I think wilders will lose. Reporter at the end of friday prayers, there was a collection to raise money for a new mosque in the city of utrecht. This expansionism concerns voters in the picturesque southern town of valkenburg, where wilders made a rare pre election appearance. A lot of criminals are muslims. Its not that all muslims are bad, but a lot of them have that ideology that they want to take over the christians and they think that muslims are better and the rules of sharia have to be. Are more important than the law, the dutch law. Im not worried about an attack, but i am most worried about the influence of our way of life. And we have to stop that. Wilders is like a hot air balloon. He is just telling the people what they want to hear. Holland, but we have to keep moving in the right direction, and with wilders we are moving in the opposite direction. We are going backward. Reporter weve met ferry schippers before, on the frontline of europes immigration crisis. He was leading the Doctors Without Borders team on board the aid ship aquarius last summer, rescuing african migrants off the libyan coast and taking them to italy. A good society is a society that take care of the weak. Its kind of strange because we used to be a tolerant country. Reporter weve come to maastricht to get a reaction to wilders plan to reject all asylum seekers, ban immigrants from muslim countries, and close down asylum centers. Nader elawa is from damascus. He landed on the greek island of lesbos in december 2015 and managed to reach the netherlands just before the migrant trail to Northern Europe was closed down. The refugees are somehow very peaceful, and i dont think they will make any problem for here. Me, i told you about myself. If something happen to netherlands i protect it with my life because my netherland people i found them they help me a lot, so why i must do something bad to them. Reporter this is rotterdam, whose prosperity is partly due to its location as the gateway to europe. Gert wilders wants the netherlands to follow britain out of the European Union and there are sympathizers at the port. Niek stam claims to be the countrys most militant labor union organizer. He says the working class feel insecure about their prospects because relentless automation and a constant drive to be competitive. The Union Campaigning for robots to be taxed. Robots do not buy cars. Neither do they shop for groceries, which leads to a fundamental question whos going to buy all these products when up to 40 of present jobs vanish . No, were not just going to sit and wait and do nothing. 20 of my membership will vote for Geert Wilders. But it doesnt mean that they are racist. I mean, its a vote its a protest vote. People are fed about the government for the last couple of years. During the economic crisis, we pay a lot more taxes. They cut our pension benefits. Its a protest vote. Its not a solution vote. Reporter but forming a government here is never smooth sailing. 28 parties are contesting the election. A coalition of four or five is needed to create a government. Wilders big problem is that no one wants to get on board with him. According to the latest opinion polls, Geert Wilders is no longer in the lead, and has dropped back to second place, but after the surprise results in the brexit referendum and the american president ial election, the sitting dutch Prime Minister is not taking victory for granted. Prime minister mark rutte called on the dutch to set an example to voters in france and germany where right wing nationalists are flourishing ahead of elections later this year. These elections are crucial. Let us stop the domino effect right here, this week, this wednesday. The domino effect of the wrong sort of populism winning in this world. Reporter are there any circumstances under which you would enter into a Coalition Partnership with Geert Wilders . Answer is no, we wont do that. The reasons are that he, that when the crisis was the deepest in 2012, he ran away from responsibility. Reporter political scientist jean tillie believes that although rutte finds wilders views on islam distasteful, its a mistake not to engage with him. We saw it in england with the brexit. People were ignored and look what happened. We saw it with america. People were ignored and look what happened. So dont ignore people when they have strong feelings. You are not obliged to incorporate them in the political system, but you cannot ignore a very large group of people consistently for 30 years. Reporter the election is taking place amid an escalating dispute with turkey. The netherlands prevented two turkish ministers from addressing a rally in rotterdam backing president erdogans referendum request for greater powers. Some European Countries have become racist and fascist parties. Have been pointing to the rise of racism and fascism and xenophobe yes and warning our interlooker thes about this issue. We are a proud country. We will never negotiate on threats. Reporter dutch analysts believe mark ruttes handling of this crisis could boost his election chances. With so much at stake, theres huge Political Tension beneath the netherlands tranquil facade. For the pbs newshour im Malcolm Brabant in amsterdam. Woodruff stay with us, coming up on the newshour an old play sparks new discussions on mexicanamerican life. And sweaters for chickens living out of their comfort zones. But first, the Trump Administration has made one thing very clear it wholeheartedly supports School Choice. Education secretary betsy devos is a strong advocate of vouchers, which allows parents to use public tax dollars to pay for a private school education. Supporters say vouchers help students succeed but opponents say they siphon crucial resources. Indiana has one of the largest Voucher Programs in the country. And special correspondent lisa stark of our partner Education Week went to see how its working, for our weekly segment, making the grade. Reporter its the start of the day at Emmaus Lutheran School in ft. Wayne indiana, where chapel is held once a week. About 20 miles away, this is how the day begins at fairfield elementary, the citys largest public elementary school. Reporter both schools are warm and welcoming both get top grades from the state for academics, and both symbolize they intensify, giving the Administration Strong support for School Choice. So whats going on . At the heart of the debate, money, and how education dollars are divvied up. Normally the state distributes tax dollars to Public Schools to educate students. In indian thats about 5,800 a student. Vouchers change that. A portion of the money the tax dollars follow the student instead, allowing parents the use those dollars to pay tuition at the private school of their choice. Thats the Voucher Program. Robert enlow is an advocate. We have seen over time our Traditional School systems, because theyre based on zip code assign. And where you live, not providing always the best option for families. Lets put the money in the backpack and let the kids go where they want to go by giving parents the best options for their kids. Indiana is one of nearly 30 states that offers vouchers or similar programs. All have the same goal allowing parents to use public funds for private schooling. Jerry and miriam lunz use vouchers to send their children to private lutheran schools, which they say is the best i would say the schools in our particular area are not the best from the academic standpoint. The christian aspect, the backing there, same taught at the school as at the home. Reporter without the vouchers, private high school was out of reach. We looked at the financial aspect and we had no idea how we were going to cover the cost. Jerry is the hardest working truck driver i know, but that doesnt pay a lot. More than 300 private schools accept vouchers, the vast majority are religious schools. The principal. Why does this school participate in the Voucher Program . Simply because it allows us to serve more students and more families. In fact, nearly half of the 193 students rely on vouchers, bringing in about 400,000 for the school, more than onethird of its budget. Its obviously very helpful, but, you know, our school was here 100 years before the Voucher Program, and im confident that well have it be here 100 years with or without the Voucher Program. At fairfield elementary, a drop in students and resources due partly to vouchers has strained budgets. According to principal lindsay martin. I have lost teachers. I have lost allocations of teachers every year because were losing students, and sometimes that makes certain grade levels class sizes large. In kindergarten, for example, there are 28 students and just one teacher. Fort wayne superintendent Wendy Robinson sees vouchers as an assault on Public Schools. You have published a totally separate School System on the back of the structure that was intended for Public School. Another concern, robinson says this is unfair competition, that Public Schools, unlike private one, are required to educate everyone who comes in the door, including students with disabilities or limited english skills, who require more resources. If they took every student, if they were responsible for special ed. , if they took ell, if they were not allowed to pick and choose which kid they took, bring it on. Indianas program started out for lowincome students. It was greatly expanded. It now includes students who never attended Public Schools, and middleclass families were added under thengovernor, now Vice President mike pence. Ive also long believed that parents should be able to choose where their kids go to school. Enrollment skyrocketed from 9,000 students to more than 34,000, 3 of the school population. This year 146 million in tax dollars is going to private schools. School choice, including vouchers, is high on the agenda of President Trump and education secretary betsy devos. Trumps first school visit was to a Florida Catholic School that accepts vouchers. Education is the civil rights issue of our time. And its why ive asked congress to support a School Choice bill. Nationally the results on vouchers are mixed with little or in improvement in test scores for voucher students. Still, some 29 states are considering dozens of bills that would start or expand vouchers and similar programs. Weve seen dramatic growth. What were going to see more of is more and more parents demanding more and more options. But Public School officials wonder at what cost. Im worried that people arent alarmed. Public education is the backbone of this country. A backbone increasingly under pressure. Im lisa stark of Education Week in fort wayne, indiana, for the pbs newshour. Woodruff now, a landmark play about the struggles of mexicanamericans gets an acclaimed revival, one that speaks to the times we live in. Jeffrey brown has the story from los angeles. Oh, oh oh oh brown it is a deeply american story, a Mexican American story zoot suit the play, set in los angeles in the 1940s, amid rampant discrimination, a real life murder trial and the so called zoot suit riots. The grand jury has just indicted you all for the same crime. Not just you four but the entire 38th street gang. Brown and zoot suit, the cultural phenomenon, reaching from its premiere in 1978 at l. A. s Mark Taper Forum, to broadway, to a 1981 film. And now, 38 years later, to a revival at the theater where it began. Its writer and director, then and now, is luis valdez. I believe in entertainment. I love entertainment. But i love it with a purpose. I want people coming out of here thinking about what they saw, and perhaps reassessing whats happening in their own lives with their families. More than anything i hope that people leave here with hope and inspiration. Brown valdez received a National Medal of the arts from president obama in 2015, for illuminating the human spirit in the face of social injustice. He spent his early years in a family of migrant workers. Is it correct what i read, that you were six when you first discovered your love of theater . In a camp . In a camp, a labor camp, i got hooked, yeah. I auditioned, and i won my first role. Unfortunately, the week of the show, we were evicted from the labor camp where we were staying and i was never in the play. So that left a big gap, a big hole in my chest, you know . Brown its an early lesson in theater and politics, right . Exactly. The desire to do theater, and anger, residual anger, because we had been evicted. 20 years later roughly, i went to cesar chavez and pitched him an idea of theater of, by and for farm workers. Brown that was the beginning of el teatro campesino a bilingual Theatre Group of farm workers who performed short plays for other migrants, often on flatbed trucks in the middle of california fields. Valdez continued to write and produce larger works as well, becoming known as the godfather of chicano theater. In 1977, he was asked to create a new production for the Mark Taper Forum. He chose the story of pachuco culture mexicanamerican urban street life and a sensational murder trial from the 1940s, in which more than a dozen chicano gang youth were convicted, followed by riots. Valdez used actual transcripts and News Headlines from the era. The original production helped launch the career of many chicano actors, including edward james olmos. Luiss brother, daniel valdez, and Rose Portillo were also part of the original cast, playing the young lovers at the heart of the drama. It was ahead of its time. Very few chicanos were already in the acting business, so for us you know, so young a cast that was coming together, we were people off the street, making our first mark on the industry. But seeing the reactions of the audience and seeing what the audience responded to, because zoot suits much more than a play, its an event. In many ways it was a spiritual experience in that sense. Brown it was also putting people on the stage and a story on the stage that most audiences havent seen. They hadnt seen characters like this. Theyd not seen, i want to say hispanic, latino, chicano, whatever you want to call us, mexicanamericans on the stage, and it was a moment where several things were going on. One is you dont always know what youre missing until you see it. So to suddenly see this play and the stage filled with people that looked like us was, oh my god, i didnt realize i was missing that. And so that sense of pride and i belong here, too. All you men are all alike. Brown all these years later, they still belong this time playing the parents of the young protagonist, henry reyna. I asked how it felt to return. When i walked into the audition room and it was the same room that i walked into 38 years ago, and this person was also at the other end of the table and luis was on the other end of the table. Brown looking just the same as all those years ago. Exactly the same. We had not changed at all, and i just took a breath and i put my bag down and i went, a moment, please, this is so surreal. Yeah, i would say its groundhog day. Brown now a new generation of younger Latino Actors has taken the stage, joined by one of mexicos leading film and tv stars, demian bichir, who fell in love with the zoot suit story as a teenager. I wanted to be in it, it was my idea. I pursued it. Brown you heard about it and you said, i have to do this . Thats pretty much the way it happened. Brown bichir plays what would become the most iconic role in zoot suit el pachuco, a kind of trickster spiritfigure who hovers around and over the action, connecting the streets of 1940s los angeles to a mythological and spiritual past. Hes the story of us, he is every mexican from the beginning of times up until now. Hes a devilish presence, hes an angel, your best advisor, our best friend, your worst enemy. Mada mada mada boogie. Brown taking on the role, says bichir, was irresistible. But like others we spoke to, he had another reason he wanted to take part in the new zoot suit for moments like this one, from a defense lawyer in the 1940s trial. Ive tried to defend what is most precious to our american society. A society that is now at war against the forces of racial intolerance. A big part of me making that decision was precisely the time we live in right now and how this is a classic, its a masterpiece of american its about discrimination and its about we mexicans being a target for so many years. Brown zoot suit plays through march 26th. From the Mark Taper Forum in los angeles, im Jeffrey Brown for the pbs newshour. Woodruff and well be back shortly with a look at one effort to keep our fowl friends warm. But first, take a moment to hear from your local pbs station. Its a chance to offer your support, which helps keep programs like ours on the air. Woodruff for those stations still with us, we take another look at a movement to ensure sustainable seafood. More than 90 of the seafood americans eat is imported and many conservationists, fishermen and foodies are out to change this. Special correspondent Allison Aubrey of npr news has this story that originally aired in january. Reporter cape cod massachusetts, named for the cod, but thats not what fisherman Jamie Eldredge is catching today. Cods been overfished in these waters. Now, hes laying his lines for a fish that most americans have never even heard of its called dogfish. Was it a good catch . How much did you land . Its a daily limit of 6,000 pounds, and im probably just a little shy of it today. Reporter that fish ends up here at this Processing Plant just up the road. So this is dogfish here, kind of a long sharky lookin thing . Yes, it is the most plentiful fish we have on the east coast right now. Reporter owner, brian marder says the chatham fishermen will bring in six Million Pounds of dogfish this year. His operation turns that spiky shark into long white fillets. Whos buying this fish . This is all being packed for the european export market. Reporter im told that the french love it, they call it salmonettes, which sounds kind of fancy. Yup. Reporter are you telling me that everything being processed here is just going to be shipped out . Yes it is. Reporter 99 of it . 99 . Reporter while all this dogfish is shipping out to europe, wheres the fish that americans like to eat coming from . Turns out its being flown in from countries around the world. Arriving at warehouses like this one we visited. Santa monica seafood is one of the largest distributors on the west coast. This year, theyll distribute 42 Million Pounds of it, much of it imported. Lots of fresh caught seafood going out and tons of seafood coming in from overseas. Its a swap that plays out across the united states, according to jennifer dianto kemmerly. Shes director of seafood watch at the monterey bay aquarium, they track and rank environmentally responsible fisheries. Over 90 of the seafood we consume in the u. S. Is actually caught or farm raised overseas, and the majority of the seafood we catch in our u. S. Fisheries doesnt stay here in our local market it goes to other countries. Reporter does that make sense . Were kind of missing out on the bounty that we actually have here. Were not celebrating the local fisheries as much as we probably should be. Reporter and that bounty is so plentiful that the Environmental Defense fund has launched a campaign to get americans eating these lesser known species from our own coastal waters. Eat these fish is a campaign to celebrate the comeback of americas fisheries. Reporter like new englands overfished cod, fisheries around the u. S. Were being depleted. After environmentalists sounded alarm bells, Congress Passed an act in 2006 that required fisheries to set quotas by 2011. Now fisheries have rebounded. Nancy civetta is with the cape cod commercial fishermens alliance. Shes been trying to promote the story of dogfish. She says even with all the demand from europe theres plenty of dogfish left here for americans to eat. Theres so many out there that we dont even catch the quota the government allows us. Reporter but heres the challenge. We dont eat dogfish in this country. We import salmon, tunand shrimp. We do not eat the food were bringing to shore right here. If were going to maximize the potential of this fishery then we need to create markets so that the fisherman can fish for it, they can better their bottom lines and we can have a sustainable coastal community. So what they do is they lay down on the bottom of the ocean. Reporter sean dimin runs a Company Called sea to table, that he says is doing just that. We come out here to places like chatham, fishing communities all around americas coasts, and we figure out how to get the best directly to chefs, universities, distributing directly from the point of catch to the point of consumption. Beautiful photos of fish we can now sell directly to consumers. Reporter back at sea to tables brooklyn headquarters, dimin explains that his operation is a complete departure from the traditional model. A big thing that we do is sell fish that fishermen are catching. Not necessarily what American Consumers and diners think they want, and thats a big part of what we do is supporting american fishing communities. Thats beautiful reporter and the model aligns perfectly with a big push at University Dining halls to source their foods from more local and sustainable sources. On the count of three say dogfish reporter this group runs the dining halls at the university of massachusetts. They serve 55,000 meals a day. Theyve made a commitment to bring this dogfish and other underloved fish back to their campus. University of massachusetts chef bob bankert is grilling dog fish fillets, hes lathered them in a spicy seasoning to make tacos. At another food station, dogfish becomes an asian flash fry. Its drizzled with wasabi mayo on top. The students are curious. A display tells them where the dogfish comes from and who caught it. Selina fournier is manager of this dining hall. Theres students that may have never heard of such a fish, so when they saw the fish here today and then got to taste it, the whole association really creates that story and bringing it to life. And hopefully creating something exciting that theyll want to order even when theyre not at umass. Reporter is that your hope that youre setting a new generation of eating habits here . Definitely. We are setng the standard for the way these students hopefully continue their health and wellness once they graduate umass. Thank you. Reporter Ruth Crawford and ana yrazusta went for the asian flash fry. So give it a try, tell us what you think. Oh my god so good. Amazing reporter whats the biggest appeal to you here . Its new, local, fresh, so healthy. Reporter and are you hoping now that ten years from now, most americans know what dogfish is . Well we hope so. Reporter fishermen like Jamie Eldredge are eager to see if Companies Like sea to table can capture the taste buds of the next generation. Im Allison Aubrey of npr news for the pbs newshour in chatham, massachusetts. Woodruff with the late winter storm bearing down on massachusetts, one group of plucky individuals in milton, massachusetts, got together to help out their neighbors across the road. From pbs station wgbh, Cristina Quinn has the story. What happens when the chicken across the road is cold . You ask your neighbors to knit him a sweater which is what she did when she noticed a rooster started shivering when the temperature dropped. I discovered sarama roosters normally would give very close to the equator, and they are not well suited to this climate in new england. So max called up nancy kerns who lives at fuller village, a Retirement Community across the street, and asked her if she and her knitting group could help prince peep. I said, lets give it a try. We went online to a very wonderful site called pinterest, and i typed in the words called chicken sweater, and found a pattern from england. Reporter they ladies knit for charities who donate blankets to homeless and sick children. Knitting for the chicken came with trial and error. The pattern was for big chickens. Prince peep in particular is a miniature. Reporter weighing in at roughly one pound, hes certainly diminutive. But it worked out perfectly since many he understand were molting making them vulnerable to the elements. You look marvelous reporter on this particular day, erika couldnt find prince peeps sweater. So we found another easy going chicken to try one on. We have changen and a sweater. Were going to attempt to put a sweater on a chicken. We are going to attempt. This beautiful hen is not used to having sweaters put on her. But this is her first time, so we can give her a little credit for being nervous. But its certainly a fetching sweater. Its lovely. Yeah, very pretty. As it turns out, putting a that really suits you. Chicken, this really suits you. Woodruff you have to love it. I wonder what those chickens did before they have sweaters. On the newshour online right now, in honor of pi day, an unofficial holiday celebrating the mathematical constant, its a perfect time to play games involving circles. We have some pro tips on hula hooping and yoyoing like a mathematician. All that and more is on our web site, pbs. Org newshour. And thats the newshour for tonight. On wednesday, our leading edge team takes a look at new computer interfaces that allow people wh paralysis to communicate. Im judy woodruff. Join us online, and again here tomorrow evening. For all of us at the pbs newshour, thank you and see you soon. 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