Spike Lee Follows ‘Chi-Raq’ Premiere With Anti-Gun Violence March
“Chi-Raq” director Spike Lee led an anti-gun violence protest after the premiere of his new movie in New York on Tuesday night, marching with the film’s attendees from Manhattan’s Ziegfeld Theater to Times Square.
The movie’s Twitter page posted various photos from the protest, showing that Michael Pfleger, portrayed in the film by John Cusack, as well as Reverend Al Sharpton were present at the protest as well.
After the screening, for which Cusack, Wesley Snipes, Nick Cannon, Teyonah Parris, LaLa Anthony, Michelle Mitchenor and Harry Lennix were present, Lee handed out knit hats and orange-colored American flag pins before leading the group down Broadway.
See Video: 'Chi-Raq' Star Angela Bassett on Chicago Gun Violence: 'It's Shameful'
The film, in which a group of women withholds sex to dissuade their men from committing gang violence in Chicago, will premiere Friday, just days after the city’s police superintendent was fired in the wake of the release of video depicting the shooting of Laquan McDonald by officers.
The video sparked various protests throughout Chicago, a city that has been affected by a spike in violence over recent years. According to the Chicago Tribune, 2,752 people have been shot this year; last year, there were 2,587 shootings. In 2013, 1,864 were shot.
Also Read: 'Chi-Raq' Review: Spike Lee Spins Sexual Satire Into Searing Commentary
The movie was filmed in Chicago last summer over a six-week period, which allowed cast members Cusack, Cannon, Parris, Snipes, Angela Bassett, Samuel L. Jackson and Jennifer Hudson to see the city’s gun violence problem firsthand.
See the photos of the protest below.
Anti-Gun Violence March @TimesSquareNYC w/ @TheRevAl @MichaelPfleger @SpikeLee #GameChangers #ChiRaq #WearOrange pic.twitter.com/QRlZtdMKw7 — CHI-RAQ The Movie (@chiraqthemovie) December 2, 2015
Anti-Gun Violence March to @TimesSquareNYC lead by @TheRevAl and @MichaelPfleger #GameChangers #ChiRaq #WearOrange pic.twitter.com/HLlpxA5bpm — CHI-RAQ The Movie (@chiraqthemovie) December 2, 2015
Tonight’s Anti-Gun Violence March to @TimesSquareNYC lead by @TheRevAl and @MichaelPfleger #GameChangers #ChiRaq pic.twitter.com/NbpS44HGN0 — CHI-RAQ The Movie (@chiraqthemovie) December 2, 2015
In NYC getting ready for the march to Time Square #ChiRaq #GameChangers #WearOrange #ChiRaqTheMovie #StopTheViolence pic.twitter.com/8oTKm1wniy — CHI-RAQ The Movie (@chiraqthemovie) December 2, 2015
Preparing for the March after the NY Premiere #ChiRaqTheMovie #ChiRaq pic.twitter.com/ywdVlO50jv — CHI-RAQ The Movie (@chiraqthemovie) December 2, 2015
#chiraq is an important film, and def @SpikeLee 's most ambitious one since do the right thing. Stop gun violence pic.twitter.com/njiW5iHKRr — daniel perlin (@djnron) December 2, 2015