ArchCity Defenders, a nonprofit civil rights law firm, and KDHX began a three-month racial film series on June 21 at The Stage at KDHX. The first film in the series is “Marvin Booker was Murdered,” an award-winning feature length documentary directed by filmmaker Wade Gardner.
Following the film screening, Blake Strode, executive director of ArchCity Defenders, facilitated a Q&A with Gardner and Marvin Booker’s brother and sister-in-law, Rev. Dr. Spencer Booker and Gail Booker.
“He was a great preacher,” Spencer Booker said. “He loved to teach God’s word. He was an intellectual brother that would share all of the thoughts of kin that he learned, and he really lived the civil rights and the liberation that he preached about.”
Marvin’s younger brother, Rev Dr. Spencer Booker, is a pastor at the St. Paul AME church in St. Louis. Rev. Booker, along with his wife, Gail Booker, played a pivotal role in fighting for Marvin’s civil rights and are featured in the film.
The film uncovers how Marvin Booker, a homeless street preacher, was brutally beaten to death by five Denver jail guards. His death was captured on videotape, and witnessed by more than twenty people. Yet, the guards were neither indicted, nor reprimanded.
“How is it that you will take a man’s life and not be responsible?” Spencer Booker asked. “We see it throughout this country, even in St. Louis. We see state violence on citizens every day, and they do nothing but cover it up. It’s going to take great people in this room, the ArchDefenders, to keep on defending people’s civil rights. The fight is on.”
The film is a reflection of the life of Booker, his devout Memphis-based family, the grassroots community that organized after his death, and a landmark 2014 civil rights trial. The film shows how the city of Denver attempted to protect the blue line, instead of the constitutional rights of one of its citizens.
“We as Americans are brainwashed by our own educational system and our political system because we are taught to believe that our government is always going to do the right things,” Gardner said. “We are so conditioned to that – that when it doesn’t happen, we’re shocked.”
ArchCity and KDHX’s film series incorporates a strong racial justice theme and will continue through the summer.
“KDHX is proud to be partnering with ArchCity Defenders to showcase socially relevant documentary films.” said Allison Wilson, chief engagement officer with KDHX.
“By offering screenings that are free and open to the public, they are accessible to a wider audience. These films can be catalysts for important conversations which create more equity and justice for the citizens of the region we serve.”
The next screening will feature Damon Davis’s award-winning documentary, “Whose Streets?” on Thursday, July 26. The third film planned for August 23, is to be determined.
Event registration is required, though all screenings are free and open to the public, with doors at 6:30 p.m., and the film beginning at 7 p.m. To register, visit www.archcitydefenders.org/events
