Production Companies making a stand? Helping to educate through free viewing
Warner Brothers has made the film “Just Mercy” available to rent for free on all major digital platforms for the whole month of June 2020. Shortly after, Paramount made “Selma” free to rent as well. The announcement comes during the wake of mass global protests in support of Black Lives Matter (BLM) following the murder of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and in honor of the many other Black men and women targeted by racists and killed at the hands of unjust police.
A movement has been created and from that theres been a light shed that there are many people that hold an open and eager desire to educate and expand their awareness on matters of race, especially those coming from a place of privilege. Books, documentaries and movies can be positive starting point to learn more about the history of discrimination and systemic racism that continues to take place against African Americans and many people of color on a continuous basis.
“Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he didn’t commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machination, and legal brinksmanship–and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever. Click to see book “Just Mercy” also available on Amazon.
Warner Brothers released the following statement on its website
“We believe in the power of story. Our film Just Mercy, based on the life work of civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson, is one resource we can humbly offer to those who are interested in learning more about the systemic racism that plagues our society. For the month of June, Just Mercy will be available to rent for free across digital platforms in the US. To actively be part of the change our country is so desperately seeking, we encourage you to learn more about our past and the countless injustices that have led us to where we are today. Thank you to the artists, storytellers and advocates who helped make this film happen. Watch with your family, friends and allies. For further information on Bryan Stevenson and his work at the Equal Justice Initiative please visit EJI.org.
SELMA is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. Director Ava DuVernay’s SELMA tells the real story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history.
Paramount released a statement ” “We hope this small gesture will encourage people throughout the country to examine our nation’s history and reflect on the ways that racial injustice has infected our society. The key message of Selma is the importance of equality, dignity and justice for all people. Clearly, that message is as vital today as it was in 1965.”
“Just Mercy” and “Selma” are available to watch for free on the following streaming platforms: Apple TV, Fandango Now, Google Play, Amazon Video, Redbox, PlayStation Store, YouTube and Vudu).