Razing Liberty Square

US Digital Premiere

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Audio Described version of this film is available by purchasing this version : Audio Described Version: Razing Liberty Square

Closed Captioning available in English You can select this option by clicking the ‘CC’ button in the bottom right of the player to turn on captions.

As rising seas threaten Miami’s luxurious beachfront, wealthy property owners are pushing inland to higher ground. Residents of the historically Black neighborhood of Liberty Square—the first segregated public housing project in the South—are the new target of an upcoming “revitalization” project due to their location 12 feet above sea level. From Academy Award nominated filmmaker Katja Esson, Razing Liberty Square shares perspectives from all angles— residents, community advocates, teachers, developers,, and politicians—following the redevelopment from start to finish. Miami is experiencing sea level rise before much of the country, but communities across the US are facing changes similar to the dramatic shifts happening in Liberty Square as the climate crisis exacerbates the affordable housing crisis and the impact of systemic racism.

“I have a problem with them tearing down Liberty Square. Liberty Square is the heart and when you destroy the heart, you destroy this community. You destroy the people. You’re not going to see people that look like me staying in these projects.” - Samantha Quarterman, film participant, Razing Liberty Square

“People think that climate change or environmental things are not a Black people’s issue, but one thing I learned about climate is that it affects us in the worst ways.” Valencia Gunder, climate activist and film participant, Razing Liberty Square

“The story of Liberty Square is also a cautionary tale of the future of many low-income communities in the face of climate change displacement. It’s a story of racial segregation and a haunting reminder of Jim Crow laws.” Lena Simet, senior researcher and advocate, Poverty and Inequality, Human Rights Watch

Content Advisory This film contains offensive language, references and indicators of aggressive policing, references to gun violence and domestic abuse.

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