A group of sexual assault survivors and their supporters said they plan to stage a candlelit, silent sit-in during the opening night of The Birth of a Nation. According to Variety, the protest will take place Thursday evening at Hollywood’s Arclight Theaters, and will be conducted by the activist group F*ck Rape Culture.
“We recognize the need to hold space for those celebrating the advancement of people of color in Hollywood while continuing to fight for the victims of sexual assault and rape around the world,” the group wrote in a statement.
In months leading up to The Birth of a Nation premiere, the film’s director and star, Nate Parker, found himself surrounded by controversy after details of his 1999 rape trial resurfaced. Though he was ultimately acquitted, many have expressed outrage over the incident and have criticized Parker’s responses to the accusations as dismissive and insincere.
“Seventeen years ago, I experienced a very painful moment in my life,” Parker told Variety. “It resulted in it being litigated. I was cleared of it. That’s that. Seventeen years later, I’m a filmmaker. I have a family. I have five beautiful daughters. I have a lovely wife. I get it. The reality is I can’t relive 17 years ago. All I can do is be the best man I can be now.”
Protest organizers are also inviting “women, gender non conforming, LGBTQ people, and their allies” to join them for the silent vigil, which will be dedicated to the unnamed victims of rape and sexual assault. They also want to make it clear that they will not support the film until Parker uses his platform to educate others on these crimes.
“When [Parker] is willing to listen before silencing us, and when he can join the dialogue on what can be done to advance the voices of women everywhere silenced by rape culture and toxic masculinity, I will be his greatest support,” organizer Elyse Cizek wrote. “Until then I will not stand for it. Instead I will sit, in quiet solidarity, with those in need of a moment of silence for the lives and stories ignored by those who care more about the appearance of change than the responsibility of creating it.”
