Many of us know that a grand jury made the decision not to indict the police officer that killed Eric Garner by using a chokehold back in 2014.
However, a new film is staging a mock trial on what could have happened if the jury’s decision would have been different.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film is entitled, “American Trial,” and it is directed by Roee Messinger, and produced by Alena Svyatova, Ralph Richardson, and Eboni K. Williams will serve as an executive producer.
The film, which is currently in production in New York City, will include “testimonies of real-life witnesses and the examination of actual evidence, including the contemporaneous cellphone video of the incident, eyewitness testimonies from Staten Island’s Bay Street on the day of Garner’s death and the medical examiner’s autopsy report.”
The film will also include actual lawyers, a judge and a verdict on the actions that were performed by NYPD officer, Daniel Pantaleo. Eric Garner’s wife and mother will also be a part of the film as well.
Ralph Richardson spoke about the film and said, “I feel it’s important to make this Eric Garner film at this time to keep blatant injustice of our imperfect system front and center in people’s minds. This film is about Eric Garner, but it’s also about the systemic issue of the police brutality of men of color. If this Eric Garner film can help create change for the better, I think we will all benefit from it.”
Roommates, what are your thoughts?