Boulder County, Colo. - The District Attorney’s Office, in response to community concerns and questions about immigration actions, is co-hosting a Know Your Rights training with Motus Theater. This event will help community members understand and exercise their rights related to immigrant protection.

District Attorney Michael Dougherty will lead a Know Your Rights training and co-lead a discussion on protections our laws do (and do not) provide in regards to traffic stops, crime victims, jails, detainers, criminal convictions, courthouses, and probation offices.

The event will be held at Canyon Theater at the Boulder Public Library on Saturday, August 9th from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. As part of this event, former Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle will join District Attorney Michael Dougherty to co-read the autobiographical story of a Motus Theater monologist with Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status about the challenges he and his family face every day.

This reading will be followed by a question-and-answer session between audience members, the District Attorney, local law enforcement leaders Boulder County public safety leaders Boulder County Sheriff Curtis Johnson, Boulder Police Chief of Staff Alastair McNiven and an immigration attorney. This event will be videotaped and posted on the website of the District Attorney’s Office to provide ongoing access to information on immigrant protections and protocols.

This event is in correlation with an opening of Motus Theater’s exhibit of murals, illustrations and photos uplifting the experiences of community members with DACA, and a never before exhibited selection of photographs from Motus’ landmark performance Law Enforcement Leaders Read DREAMer Stories (2017). Regardless of individual beliefs about immigration policy, visitors to this exhibit and civic dialogue will learn more about the impact of immigration policies on the lives of undocumented families.

For example, participants will discuss whether victims of sex assault and domestic violence should be able to call 911, speak with the police, and come to the Justice Center without fear that they and their kids will be deported because they reported a crime.

The District Attorney will cover some of the recent changes to the law so that community members are armed with the accurate information on their rights and protections.

If you cannot be there in person but have a question on immigrant rights, write info@motustheater with your question and we will do our best to include it in the posted video.

Date: Saturday, August 9, 2025

Time: Civic Dialogue & Performance at 3:30 PM - 5:30PM followed by a reception and gallery opening from Motus Theater’s ImmigrantAmerica project from 5:30-7pm.

Location: Canyon Theater & Gallery, Boulder Public Library

Admission: Free and open to the public