The film about the life and death of 22-year-old Oscar Grant killed by BART police in the early morning hours of New Years Day 2009 is in theaters today.
Grant was returning home from celebrating New Years Eve with his girlfriend and friends when a fight broke out on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train. After being detained by BART police, unarmed Grant was shot in the back and killed while laying prostrate before officers. The officer charged with his slaying was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after stating that he shot Grant accidently, confusing his gun with his taser.
The slaying of Oscar Grant prompted several violent protests in Oakland, as well as numerous non-violent events of support, including tribute shows by local hip-hop artists.
SEE ALSO: OSCAR GRANT, OAKLAND & HIP-HOP: CONNECT THE DOTS
The movie, Fruitvale Station, was named after the station where Grant was shot. The heartbreaking and amazingly portrayed film stars Michael B. Jordan (Chronicle, Parenthood) and Academy Award winner, Octavia Spencer. The film was executive produced by Forrest Whitaker. Fruitvale Station won “Prize of the Future” at the Cannes Film Festival as well as U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and U.S. Dramatic Audience Award and is already being considered an Oscar contender.
Fruitvale Station is in theaters now.
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