RAW: Battlements on Fire May 8, 2009

Leo Perez works hard to help his parents survive the real estate turnover called 'urban renewal'. Gentrification has turned the Upper West Side upside down. His days and nights are filled with a hard climb up the ladder to Group Counselor at a local Day Care Center. To make matters more complicated, Leo has found true love. He's head over heals for his new girlfriend Chrissy, a waitress at a local restaurant who gets by mixing her sharp Irish wit with a broad streak of independence. Well on his way to a solid career, Leo takes a night off for a double date to a laser rock performance at the nearby planetarium. An evening of fun turns ugly when he and his friends are forced to confront racist hatred. Leo sees his chance to use his professional training -- isn't this an opportunity for social healing? His three friends have their own ideas on how to cope with the unexpected threat. Will non-violence hold up in the stark reality of a sweltering summer night in a city that's in crisis?