"You have to see Fruitvale Station…"
July 28, 2013 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us
From a reader:
I went to the opening of Fruitvale Station on Friday, July 19. For those who don't know, Fruitvale Station is a superbly acted movie that tells the story of Oscar Grant, the 24 hours leading up to his murder and his cold-blooded execution by BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit police) in Oakland, Calif., on New Year's Eve in 2009. The BA Everywhere Van Tour was out in front of this major movie theater complex in downtown Chicago. Theatergoers of all nationalities were signing a banner calling out Trayvon's murder and lots of palm cards for the film BA Speaks: REVOLUTION—NOTHING LESS! were getting into people's hands.
You have to see Fruitvale Station, opening in theaters nationwide on July 26... that is all I can say. The world lost someone special when Oscar Grant's life was stolen by pigs and the whole weight of the not guilty verdict for Zimmerman punches you in the gut again. People were sitting silently stunned, some crying, from the portrayal of Oscar Grant's murder, as words flashed across the screen telling what happened in the wake of his murder. Those words were coming almost too fast to sink in. Then, from the back of the large theater auditorium, a very firm, clear voice calls out the words scrolling on the screen: "sentenced to two years, served 11 months" —the voice really sounded like it was part of the movie. Then, as the credits begin to roll, still no one has moved ... the voice again commanding: "Oscar Grant did not have to die, we all know the reason why, the whole damn system is guilty." It sounded like part of the movie soundtrack and I think people were riveted. But when the voice continued ... "Trayvon Martin did not have to die, we all know the reason why ... if you want to find out how to put an end to this once and for all, see me about the revolution being led by Bob Avakian," it dawned on the collective consciousness that this was not part of the movie. It was one of the members of the BA Everywhere Van Tour in the back of the auditorium. The audience broke into applause for the courageous truth told in the movie and for the revolutionary giving voice to the outrage of Oscar's and Trayvon's murders (along with countless others) and telling people that there is a way out of this insanity through revolution.
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