A powerful new documentary, “In the Dark of the Valley,” explores the SSFL’s sordid history of negligence and secrecy and its tragic impact on local families impacted by childhood cancer.
The film is screening at the Cleveland International Film Festival from April 8 – 20, 2021. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. The film can be streamed on demand or through Roku and Apple TV by downloading the CIFF Steams app. We urge everyone to view this important film!
From the Cleveland International Film Festival:
When Melissa Bumstead’s daughter received a rare cancer diagnosis at the age of four, their family was devastated. They spent a lot of time in the hospital receiving treatments. And through the course of those treatments, they met a lot of other children with similarly rare cancers. Along the way they started to notice a disturbing trend—most of these sick children lived quite close to the Bumstead’s house, and some, in fact, even lived on their street. With alarm bells ringing, the mothers began to do some digging. And what they discovered was worse than anyone could have imagined. Just miles from their neighborhoods was the site of one of the largest nuclear accidents in U.S. history, the Santa Susana Field Laboratory. If you’re surprised you’ve never heard of it, don’t be. NASA and Boeing have spent billions covering up the accident since 1959 and have claimed for decades there are no unsafe conditions around the site. An infuriating and illuminating documentary, IN THE DARK OF THE VALLEY follows this outraged group of mothers as they fight for accountability and action, standing strong against immoral and corrupt institutions. Hell hath no fury like a mother fighting for her children. – G.S.
The February 13, 20020 SSFL Work Group meeting brought together community members, cleanup advocates, and local elected officials to discuss the SSFL cleanup crisis.
The meeting featured a presentation by CalEPA Secretary Jared Blumenfeld as well as presentations by Melissa Bumstead, founder of Parents vs SSFL, Dan Hirsch, President of Committee to Bridge the Gap, and Linda Parks, Ventura County Supervisor.
Elected officials representing the area from every level of government made strong statements of support for the full, promised cleanup. Click here to view video from the meeting.