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- we were fighting. so now who do we have? who are our heroes now in this community? - now you have a firehouse that, you know, the fire engine says humboldt park bomberos. and it's mostly latino firefighters. - oh, yeah? - you couldn't imagine that 30 years ago. but the impact that has on a little kid. - oh, yeah. - watching guys that look like you as first responders taking care of your neighborhood? - every day superheroes. - they're every day superheroes. - in your community. yeah. - absolutely, man. - it isn't surprising for a fireman to be a hero, but it's uncommon for a fireman to be latin, because 77% of firefighters in the united states are white. so how did the humboldt park bomberos crack the code? - john, here are the humboldt park bomberos. - oh, [speaking spanish]. - the pride of humboldt park. - frank velez, chicago fire department chief. - johnny musa. [speaking spanish] - this is an all-latin firehouse? - correct. - how did you do that, man? - i always wanted to work in my community, and lieutenant musa also had the same inspiration. - so they were just accepting of latin people coming into a predominantly white boys club? - well, there was some resistance, but we're here.
goofiness. >> it was shocking that an 18 year old girl could just disappear like that on easter morning. >> the convenience store was strong with tape by the time how the sister arrived. >> i just felt like i was watching a movie. >> inside the store, not promising, they found heidi's purse, her car keys, money undisturbed in the register, no signs of a struggle and her car was parked in the law be. >> i just remember sitting and watching. i didn't know what to do. >> the community made a find highly volunteer command center at the old firehouse while the authorities readied their first new's order. >> we have an 18 year old girl by the name of heidi allen who lives here in new haven who was the clerk. >> someone listening to that bulletin was richard thibodaux who of course recognize heidi from the convenience store where he had shot earlier. he turned to his girlfriend
officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said this memorandum describes this policy. there's absolutely no way that we are going to release them with any type of condition, any type of care. it has nothing to do with that. the policies pale in comparison to drinking from a firehouse. he said just know everyone is going to be released. >> harris: i'm so astonished at how quickly we got to this point. i'm absolutely not surprised that we have arrived. >> you know it must be really bad if president joe biden admitting there's chaos of the southern border. he won't call it a crisis but he's admitting there is chaos. the problem is the biden administration doesn't want to admit what they could fix this entire crisis within two week span if they reimplemented the trump era immigration policies that he repealed on day one. remain in mexico.
how did you know they were resistant? - when i first came on in 1989, hispanics only made 2% of the entire department out of 6,000 people. and what that tells you? - so how did you get this diverse firehouse? - we go out to the community, hispanic communities, and the leaders to push out the word. - you were proactive... - you have to. - in bringing latin people to this firehouse? - and just young hispanic men seeing us doing it inspires them for them to be able to come and do it. - right, right. - so now what happens is that then these guys become firemen, they become officers, they become chiefs, right? - yes. - and then all of a sudden, the workforce reflects the community. - right. - and guess what? the community is extremely receptive and welcoming to this, right? and by the way, the house has adobo smell coming out of it when these doors open. so let's go meet up with-- - come on in, meet some of the guys. - oh yeah, thank you. this is my crew for the day. - how's it going, fellas? man, what's up? - hi, man. - how are you? - my name is ruben. - ruben. - i'm the engineer. i drive our engine.
who are our heroes now in this community? - now you have a firehouse that, you know, the fire engine says humboldt park bomberos. and it's mostly latino firefighters. - oh, yeah? - you couldn't imagine that 30 years ago. but the impact that has on a little kid. - oh, yeah. - watching guys that look like you as first responders taking care of your neighborhood? - every day superheroes. - they're every day superheroes. - in your community. yeah. - absolutely, man. - it isn't surprising for a fireman to be a hero, but it's uncommon for a fireman to be latin, because 77% of firefighters in the united states are white. so how did the humboldt park bomberos crack the code? - john, here are the humboldt park bomberos. - oh, [speaking spanish]. - the pride of humboldt park. - frank velez, chicago fire department chief. - johnny musa. [speaking spanish] - this is an all-latin firehouse? - correct. - how did you do that, man? - i always wanted to work in my community, and lieutenant musa also had the same inspiration. - so they were just accepting of latin people coming into a predominantly white boys club? - well, there was some resistance, but we're here. - some? like how?
community. i say to people all the time, you got into this lie. do you really think be a little old lady who wakes up at 5:00 in the morning to set up the table in the gym or in the firehouse, she's a part of a grand conspiracy to subvert democracy. no, in fact these are people who are love our country and democracy. they want to play a role in it. he's made that very difficult for elections workers. he's made it very difficult for the dea in new york. for the dea in georgia to do their jobs. to uphold the law. he doesn't believe the law applies to him. so, what we're going to have to do, what we did in the last election. and we will have to be him. i hope these charges aren't as serious as they seem to. b i hope they -- in a court of law, he's held accountable to the laws like every other american. we also have a tandem process. and that process means beating him, as president biden would
indictments, trials, you know can one person have. this is a sickening display that the republican party seems to be galvanizing around a man who has made it very clear he does not believe the law applies to him. what i will say, we'll see it in the georgia case. i think at the core of what's so dangerous about what he's continued to do with his outright lies about the last election, it's really about blowing up the bonds of community. i say to people all the time, you got into this lie. do you really think be a little old lady who wakes up at 5:00 in the morning to set up the table in the gym or in the firehouse, she's a part of a grand conspiracy to subvert democracy. no, in fact these are people who are love our country and democracy. they want to play a role in it. he's
ranks. we, as a community, kind of had to step up and that's the nonprofits, for profits, people that own businesses, own property, and just, you know, kind of raise our hand and say this is a untenable situation. we want you to listen to us. and niece initiatives they have done very proud one of the other ones was asheville fire department and they are setting up kind of a decentralized clinic away from the main firehouse which is about 3 or 4, you know, about 40 yards from where one of my restaurants are. and that's very good. because, you know, we have people that are reacting, you know, to, you know, drug addiction and they associate behaviors real easy to have those ambulances there. and those paramedics. also with the county. the county and the city is doing that the county also sheriff's department is starting to do joint patrol initiatives with asheville police department to kind of augment and supplement
back then, it was rare to see any latino faces on stage besides the great raul julia. and he wasn't necessarily playing latin roles. so what chance did a kid like me have of making it to broadway? that's why spaces like the puerto rican traveling theater and pregones theater are crucial for latinx talent to be able to develop their work. the first musical i wrote, "kiss my aztec," was workshopped back in 2018 at the puerto rican traveling theater with an amazing ensemble of actors. since its founding in 1967, theater directors like jorge merced have worked non-stop to hold a space for latin art to flourish. - so happy that you're here. you know, you have a connection to this building. it was built in 1888 as a firehouse. it's a historical landmark, and it's the only freestanding latino theater in the broadway district. - and it's because of latin innovation and how we adapt. so we took a firehouse so we could get our own theater.
latin innovation and how we adapt. so we took a firehouse so we could get our own theater. - i know, that's what--miriam was walking by in the '60s. - miriam colón, which was the founder, right? - the founder of this theater. and she saw this boarded up, and she says, "there's gotta be a theater in there." - the legendary miriam colón became well-known in the theater community after her performance in the acclaimed play "the oxcart" by puerto rican playwright rené marqués. but she was also the latina in hollywood in the '50s and '60s and became best known for her role as mama montana in scarface. - she hated hollywood. she was like-- - why'd she hate hollywood so much? - because she was so distant from her people. - right. - and in '67, she founded the puerto rican traveling theater. she was taking theater to the people. and she says, "that's my calling." i have some people inside from the company that wanna say hello to you again. you wanna come in? - yeah, yeah. ♪ oh, i know some of you. - you know these people? - of course i do. some of the great new york talent.