I Was There: Statue of Liberty Takeover

'I Was There' is an archival and interview-based series I developed where a subject describes their experience and role within a larger historical event or movement - with hopes of drawing parallels between history/their experiences and current cultural themes/elements. Using archival footage, the series focuses on the lived experience and not what you’d find in textbooks.

In this episode of “I Was There”, a series that highlights personal experiences in historical moments, VICE meets with Chino. Chino, a Puerto Rican-Cuban activist, was part of a pivotal demonstration in which the Statue of Liberty was taken over. Chino shares this experience during his youth and its consequences on his community, as well as his own journey as an activist.