Events

PAST EVENT: Knock Down the House: screening and discussion

To coincide with Black History Month, GEMS are thrilled to be hosting a screening of the award-winning documentary 'Knock Down the House', at 5.30pm on Wednesday 9th October, 2019 at the University of Strathclyde.

When tragedy struck her family in the midst of the financial crisis, Bronx-born Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had to work double shifts in a restaurant to save her home from foreclosure. After losing a loved one to a preventable medical condition, Amy Vilela didn’t know what to do with the anger she felt about America’s broken health care system. Cori Bush was drawn into the streets when the police shooting of an unarmed black man brought protests and tanks into her neighborhood. Paula Jean Swearengin was fed up with watching her friends and family suffer and die from the environmental effects of the coal industry.

At a moment of historic volatility in American politics, these four women decide to fight back, setting themselves on a journey that will change their lives and their country forever. Without political experience or corporate money, they build a movement of insurgent candidates challenging powerful incumbents in Congress. Their efforts result in a legendary upset.

Join us for a screening of this vital film. After the screening, we’ll be joined by a panel of women discussing race, gender and representation.

Chair:

Talat Yaqoob (Director of Equate and Co-founder of Women 50:50)

Speakers:

Seyi Akiwowo (Founder and Director of Glitch)

Shulamite Ezechi (Founder and Chief Executive of ANYISO)

Dr Nighet Riaz (Researcher at UWS and equalities activist)

When: 9th October, 5.30pm

Where: Room 301, McCance Building, University of Strathclyde, Richmond Street, Glasgow, G1 1RG

Book your free ticket here