[Oct 26, 2022: Los Angeles, CA] Academy Award-winning actor Jamie Foxx hosted a special impact screening of Greg Palast’s new film, Vigilante: Georgia’s Vote Suppression Hitman, for activists at the Laemmle Royal in West LA on Wednesday night. The event was presented by the ACLU of Southern California and Black Voters Matter.
(L to R) Jamie Foxx hosts a panel with Retired Major Gamaliel Turner, a Georgia voter who almost lost his vote, and Greg Palast, who tells Turner’s story in his new film, Vigilante: Georgia’s Vote Suppression Hitman. Photo: Badpenny.
During a panel discussion after the film — which is narrated by Rosario Dawson and exposes the most brazen, racist attack on voting rights yet — Foxx spoke passionately about the Black lives lost in the struggle for voting rights. The panel also featured retired Major Gamaliel Turner, a Georgia voter who almost lost his vote because he was posted to Port Hueneme in California while serving his country. Turner’s fight to ensure his vote got counted after a vigilante challenged his right to vote is documented in Palast’s film.
“You have to get this man’s courage out there,” said Foxx of Turner’s struggle. “You have to get this man’s story out there, and you have to activate.”
In total, as revealed in Palast’s film, an army of 88 GOP vigilantes — empowered by Governor Brian Kemp’s SB202 anti-voting law — have challenged a staggering 364,000 Georgia voters.
“As soon as SB2O2 was passed last May, in 2021, the ACLU of Georgia together with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund filed a challenge to SB202, and that challenge is ongoing, ” said Julia A. Gomez, staff attorney for the ACLU of Southern California.
While that challenge works its way through the courts, the ACLU of Georgia and NAACP, alongside grassroots groups like Black Voters Matter and the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda, are reacting to these systemic challenges, by sending letters directly to counties that have received these challenges — challenging hundreds or thousands of votes — reminding them that there are existing federal laws that prohibit systemic purging of the roles within 90 days of an election.
“And they’ve been successful in pushing back against that,” notes Gomez. “So, we’re reminding them of existing legal obligations to prevent exactly what happened to Major Turner.”
Greg Palast with Vigilante Executive Producer George DiCaprio (L) and Jamie Foxx (R). Photo: Badpenny
Jamie Foxx makes sure Gamaliel Turner’s ready for the spotlight. Photo: Tara Brown.
(L to R) Vigilante Executive Producer George DiCaprio, Director David Ambrose, Jamie Foxx, and Greg Palast. Photo: Terry Manpearl.
Retired Major Gamaliel Turner surrounded by his family. Photo: Tara Brown.
Jamie Foxx with Melody Turner, wife of Retired Major Gamaliel Turner, whose story is highlighted in Vigilante: Georgia’s Vote Suppression Hitman. Photo: Badpenny
Leni Badpenny with Al Jourgensen of Ministry. Photo: David Ambrose.
Greg Palast with George DiCaprio, Executive Producer of Vigilante: Georgia’s Vote Suppression Hitman. Photo: Badpenny
(L to R) Susan Adelman (Black Voters Matter), Gamaliel Turner, and Donzaleigh Abernathy (Rev. Ralph Abernathy’s daughter). Photo: Tara Brown.
Jamie Foxx joins the Palast Investigations team for some popcorn. (L to R) Terry Manpearl, Foxx, Jevin Lamar, and Leni Badpenny.
Photo: Karolin Melody Delgadillo.
(L to R) Gamaliel Turner, Greg Palast, and Jamie Foxx. Photo: Tara Brown.
Susan Adelman (Black Voters Matter). Photo: Tara Brown.
Jamie Foxx (R) with Palast Investigations team member Jevin Lamar (L). Photo: Badpenny.
Palast gets a hug. Photo: Tara Brown.
(L to R) Susan Adelman (Black Voters Matter), Julia A. Gomez (staff attorney, ACLU of Southern California), Jamie Foxx, Gamaliel Turner, Greg Palast, and moderator Denise Quan (a former CNN senior producer). Photo: Terry Manpearl.
Director David Ambrose (L) and Greg Palast (R) check out the Laemmle Royal marquee before the show.
Photo: Karolin Melody Delgadillo.
A message from Retired Major Gamaliel Turner & his wife Melody…
Turner currently works as America’s expert on warfare of the future. He’s also a #Georgia voter who almost lost his vote. His story is highlighted in our film, Vigilante: https://t.co/9ArRPgjXNz #GoVote pic.twitter.com/Kbeh7xNEjR
— Greg Palast (@Greg_Palast) October 27, 2022
Writer, editor, photographer, videographer, social media consultant, and tactivist (tactical activist), Nicole Powers uses art and technology to share ideas that make the world a better place.
