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Note: Viewers defined their own race and religious affiliation in open-ended demographic questions - this information is intended to show the diversity of our audiences.

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"Thank you for making this wonderful film. You truly seized an historical moment and collected stories that needed to be recorded. You provided a fair and passionate picture (not an easy feat!) of post-9/11 America. Thank you for jump-starting and contribution to a dialogue that desperately needs to take place."

"I thought the movie was really amazing and very moving. I agree with the idea of bringing tissues! I hope many more people get the opportunity to see this movie, I simply was not aware of the severity and the stories of the people really hit close.

I think maybe if the guy from the train station who yelled 'go home' had a chance to watch this movie, it would change his attitude."

"A really warm, open, and refreshingly non-didactic documentary about a really important issue post-9/11 that I was hardly aware of to the degree I feel I am now. Thank you for being so courageous!"

"My name is Devin Fitzpatrick, and I am very happy to see a fellow student of religious studies working so hard to affect the world. I am a philosophy/religious studies double major here at Cal, and I was deeply moved by your film. As I have a Japanese stepmother and half-sister, I have perhaps been confronted by questions of racial identity more often than my fellow upper-middle class Caucasians; still, I feel almost presumptuous that I was moved to tears by your message. But it is not just that your actions personally inspire me and my belief that my studies can truly be used to help others -- I am reminded of my mother Joan who passed on three years ago, and while she lived was the Brotman Professor of Law at the University of Washington. She was a member of Amnesty International, and taught international law, human rights law, immigration law, and women's rights. I don't usually make a point of my great pride in her -- there is a family tragedy associated with her death, so despite her great influence on me, I do not often bring her up -- but I feel I was personally moved because your movie reminded me of her.

I just remember how outraged she was at the Sikh death in Arizona... I heard of it before any of my friends, and I didn't even know what a Sikh was. She probably didn't either. But her passion for human justice spurred her on all the same...

I hope to tie together ethics and what we find meaningful in a reasonable manner, in a message that anyone can understand, so that no one will be motivated by fear, and continue to commit the crimes your film depicts. My own talents are modest compared to my mother's, and being young my ambitions are obviously far too wide, sweeping, but still -- I am reminded by how one individual's false beliefs can hurt so many, and how a few wise words from a passionate speaker might have changed this.

I am reminded of my own mission, and my commitment to constantly intellectually challenging myself and others, and keeping a dialogue open -- so that we can continue to ask, like you say, what it means to be American -- and what it means to be united as humans as well. And if a guy like me can be inspired by a story about Sikhs, well... maybe I'm already on to something.

Thank you for your hard work. Thank you very much."

"You are a rockstar. Thank so much for putting this film together. It was beautifully done. The commentary and analysis were insightful and thought-provoking. I am not Sikh, but have experienced several bouts of discrimination. I feel we need to draw on a shared sense of community in order to fight the good fight. Thank you for bringing us a step closer..."

"Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! What a tremendous gift. Please keep telling these stories and more and let us know how we can help spread the word!"

"Thank you, Valarie, for a life-changing film. I appreciate your inclusion of the effects on children. As an Asian-American who grew up in the Midwest, it touched that experience as a non-white child in the U.S. Keep up the wonderful work."

"This was an amazing film that moved me to tears even though I normally don't cry for movies. Thank you.

Although this film came from a Sikh perspective, it did shine light on issues that need to be faced. Coming from a Muslim family I have a very Muslim name and although I have not been the victim of hate violence, I have experienced prejudice in recent years, from airports to classmates to even a boyfriend. Prejudice and hate are still everywhere and these stories need to be told. Thank you for letting voices be heard. You have inspired me to look for more in my life and make a change. Thank you."

"Thank you for including relevant positive portrayals of Christians in addition to the necessary and important footage of Christians being bigots.

Also, thanks for including the names of those 19 killed (on the map at the end). I noticed that there were two Arab Christians killed, and I'm so glad you're publicizing this wrongful persecution of Sikhs and other groups (Hindus, Muslims, Christians, etc). As you probably know, Arab and Palestinian Christians have been terribly persecuted (directly and indirectly) by white American Christians, and you've done a great job of exposing this type of persecution of many groups!"

"This film has a profound impact on not only the Sikh community but also people of other religious backgrounds. I have never been so proud to be a Sikh. We should stand tall. I recommend this movie to anyone, of all ages and background. I'd never have the guts to make this bold movie and create a great documentary, however after 9/11 I wrote many letters that were published in local newspapers -- these letters reflected my thoughts and feelings regarding hate crimes. I'm so glad to have had this opportunity to see the film."

"Way to keep it real."

"I cried and cried throughout the film, so aside from all the compliments you get, I want to say that you are a very strong person to go through the journey and stay strong as you heard all the stories first hand. If I had a hat, I would definitely say 'hats off to you.'"

"I liked how you let the stories of the interviewees speak for themselves. It is a beautiful, moving, and necessary film. I admire everyone involved with it."

"Thank you for making this amazing film. Your insights and those from others in your film need to be spread widely. Thank you for the historical footage and information. It was hard to see the footage again and again. You are a rock star with amazing heart and love. Even if you don't get the widely circulated as you may dream of and what it merits know that the lives that you have touched has created more love and peace in this crazy world filled with so much fear and hatred.'"

"This was a very well made film, and it was full of many strong and important messages. I was particularly glad that you drew connections with historical events and hate crimes. I also appreciated the way you pointed out the cycle of violence -- especially state violence in war and death penalty."

"This took me back to post-9/11 and when I felt scared for my family, my nephew who looks Arab and attended a school and a lot of international kids and was threatened by a bomb. When a lot of us felt scared as Americans and scared as the other. Thank you for this film and the feeling of solidarity it gave."

"I enjoyed the film, it has a compelling message that we all have helped built this country. This film has help me greatly understand the plight of how difficult it can be to accept those that are different from us. This film can enhance the power of diversity not just the idea."

"Valarie,

This was a very touching movie. I wish more people in our community would become activists, and help educate the community.

Keep up the good work and hope to see you at the movies."

"God bless you for putting forth such a great amount of effort and energy to produce this film. It got to my heart and I'll be honest and admit that I shed tears. Thank you!"

"For me Sikhs have been my community and every Sikh I see as a brother or sister, this reminds me that I have siblings (family) in many other communities as well."

"Excellent film, as a Sikh I could relate to what was going on with the families of the victims. I get a vibe that there should be solidarity between religions and different ethnicities."

"This is a beautiful film that deserves a wider audience. I was very inspired by the stories conveyed, and appreciate all the emotion shared. I wish you all the best with the film and will share what I learned with friends and family."

"Thank you. I am so, so happy I decided to come tonight to see this amazing film. For five years America has not seen this side of the story in the media at the level it deserves. Though I thought it would have a certain 'angle' or slant, the bottom line was that we are all people, so thank you."

"Absolutely great movie. Please try to have this film premiere on public television."

"I think that this was an awesome movie! It taught me so much!"

"The film was very powerful and had an excellent dramatic through line."

"This was a great documentary. I feel so many Americans can learn from this. If there is a way to make a shorter, edited version that can be shown in classrooms, I think this film can educate a lot of people."

"Amazing new perspective, and understanding of acts of hate I wasn’t aware of. Please continue to share this film with anyone who will see it."

"I'm grateful someone made this film. It's fresh and represents the Sikh community accurately."

"Beautiful and moving. Amazing film."

"It was a really really good movie. I sincerely want to thank you for making this movie. As a young individual, the actions that you take are rather inspiring for fellow kids such as me. Continue with this and other projects. Good luck with the future and everything."

"Thank you for making this film! Moving and touching! Terrific job! Opened my eyes to how much ignorance and discrimination still exists in our country. I admire your bravery and determination. Thank you!"

"I can't deny that I initially had an idea what the turban represented. Luckily for me, I got paired with a Sikh roommate to enlighten me on the history and the meaning behind it. I'd just like to say that just like you, others in your community are also trying to spread awareness, and people everywhere support your cause."

"This is a very important film. I hope that this can be widely viewed by the people who hold racist perspectives. The film also shows how alive and real racist hate is in America and you have memorialized an important and real problem."

"Wonderful. Proof that good can be done, even in times of such sorrow. Thank you."

"Congratulations! On following a dream and telling a story through such a powerful medium. I especially appreciated the beginning showing the history of your family history -- it shows a side of immigration that is often not told. The film makes a person think about that experience of being an immigrant American.

Have you considered showing clips in schools? Facism is a learned experience -- maybe showing the film can deconstruct that experience.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. Thank you for telling the story of a community... of communities."

"The film is amazing and I hope distributions expands to the educational curriculum and the wider film circuit... so many Americans need it."

"This film is incredibly profound; it is one of the most important films made since 9/11. It was deeply personal for me and I hope that everyone gets a chance to see it. Thank you!"

"I was very touched by this film. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to showing the truth."

"I think you did an exceptional job not moving into a message of 'we aren't Muslim... we are Sikh' and bring the struggle together through education. Thanks!"

22-year-old male, Muslim, American citizen
Berkeley

"Fantastically thoughtful film -- I wish everyone could see it."

26-year-old female, Indian, Hindu, American citizen
Berkeley

"I was excited to see a film represent the aftermath of 9/11 in a manner which wasn't portrayed before. After 9/11 I witnessed the bigotry first hand and laughed when I saw the news every day because the hatred and violence that was prevalent was ignored on the news. All I would hear was that everyone was together and one. But I didn't see the other side, which you showed in your film."

"A deeply moving film that should be screened widely. I am a documentary filmmaker academic from India and would love to have a copy of this film to screen back home."

Anjah Monteiro
51-year-old female, Indian citizen
Berkeley