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ACLU and Terrace Theater present a free screening of 'American Violet'
The American Civil Liberties Union's South Carolina Office will hold a free screening and discussion of the acclaimed film American Violet on Monday, October 26.
The screening will begin at 7 p.m. at Terrace Theater James Island located at 1956 Maybank Highway.
Here's a bit on the film from the press release:
The film tells the dramatic story of an ACLU case involving an African-American single mother living in a small Texas town who was arrested in 2000 in a military style drug raid. Regina Kelly (played by Nicole Beharie), who was innocent of any crime, was arrested for felony cocaine distribution. Instead of agreeing to plead guilty, Kelly fought the charges with the help of ACLU lawyer and South Carolina native Graham Boyd (played by Tim Blake Nelson). Eventually, the charges against her were dropped, and the case resulted in a change in Texas law whereby cases can no longer be prosecuted based solely on the claims of a single confidential informant. The film has played at such prestigious film festivals as Telluride and South by Southwest and is released by Samuel Goldwyn Films. The ACLU will present Kelly with the Roger N. Baldwin Medal of Liberty Saturday during a ceremony in New York City.
American Violet is inspired in part by the real-life efforts of Boyd, who currently serves as the Director of the ACLU Drug Law Reform Project, which aims to end punitive drug policies that cause the widespread violation of constitutional and human rights as well as unprecedented levels of incarceration.
After the screening, a discussion centering on issues of race, drug enforcement practices and the legal system will take place featuring local political and community leaders. During the discussion and screening, Boyd will be joined by Reverend Joseph Darby, pastor of Morris Brown AME Church and 1st Vice President of the Charleston NAACP as well as state Rep. David Mack III (District 109).
25 Oct 2009 8:06 am.