Synopsis
In the 1980’s when hundreds of politically minded people folded back into the comforts of American society, Silvia deepened her conviction to revolutionary struggle. She became a member of the May 19th Communist Organization, a radical group of White, North Americans. May 19th was a key element in a fragile but growing alliance of revolutionaries, African American, Puerto Rican and White who worked relentlessly to organize people to view the U.S. Imperialist system as the leading source of world oppression. Their hope was to defeat Imperialism and to build a Socialist system. Most threatening to the government was their support for the Republic of New Africa, a Black organization fighting to win land in the South on which to build a nation under Black rule. Members of the alliance were targets of the government, counter insurgency program, COINTELPRO. In 1983, using an array of tactics, the government put an end to the alliance. Silvia was indicted and convicted on three charges including helping to free from prison Assata Shakur, a Black revolutionary. Silvia was given a 43-year sentence. After 17 years in U.S. prisons, she won the right to serve out her sentence in the country of her birth. In 1999, she was transferred to a prison in Rome. Within six months, Silvia was diagnosed with cancer. Despite resistance from the U.S. government, the Italian Supreme Court granted Silvia “house arrest” to facilitate her treatment for cancer. While her health is monitored, the U.S. government keeps a watchful eye, if it improves, the Bush administration insists she return to prison. The documentary presents Silvia’s side of the story, the side that was not supposed to be told.