‘Selma’ cast wears ‘I Can’t Breathe’ t-shirts at premiere
The cast of "Selma" used their New York City premiere on Sunday as an opportunity to show their support for recent protests.
The cast of Selma used their New York City premiere on Sunday as an opportunity to show their support for recent protests.
David Oyelowo, who plays Martin Luther King Jr. in the film, led the demonstration at the New York Public Library as he and other members of their group stood with their hands raised, wearing “I Can’t Breathe” T-shirts — before heading to the Ziegfeld Theater for the premiere.
This act of solidarity is especially relevant to these movements since the film title refers to the marches from Selma to Montgomery — marches that led to the the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 and which were also plagued by police brutality.
Life seems to have imitated art, as these actors now join the thousands of activists who have taken to the city streets since the death of Eric Garner.
Selma, directed by Ava DuVernay, stars David Oyelowo, Oprah Winfrey, Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Lorraine Toussaint. It arrives in select theaters Dec. 25 and everywhere Jan. 9.
