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Will Smith, the star of the film “Emancipation,” based on a real-life story of a slave who emancipated himself and joined the Union Army. The movie’s director Antoine Fuqua and Smith announced their decision to move the production away from Georgia to Louisiana on April 13, 2021. They made the decision because of the new voting law signed by Georgia’s Gov. Brian Kemp.
The law, sign on March 25, 2021, requires a photo ID for absentee voting by mail, shortens the time to request an absentee ballot, limiting the locations and access to drop boxes. The legislation is the result of the November election, where a record-breaking 1.3 million Georgians opted for absentee voting. It also entails making it a crime to provide voters anything to eat or drink as they stand in line at polling places. The law seems to be designed to deprive Black and brown people of the right to vote freely.
President Biden criticized Gov. Kemp for advancing the law, which attempts to limit voting rights, calling it an “atrocity” and “un-American.” He is not sure what could be done but stated that the Justice Department is looking into the Constitutionality of the law.
The New Georgia Project, Black Voters Matter Fund, and Rise have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Atlanta challenging the new law, stating that it violates the Voting Rights Act. To date, Georgian officials have not responded.
In 2008, Georgia presented a tax incentive that transformed the state into a film and television production focal point. Many industry crew members, artisans, and technicians have made their homes there.
As the nation deals with extreme racism, both Smith and Fuqua feel they can not give economically to a state government that authorizes backward voting laws. Hollywood yet to decide what specific action to take regarding the situation. Though most studios disagree with the Governor’s law, they have not stopped production. Smith and Fuqua are the first to do so because of legislation.
Written by Brenda Robinson
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
CNBC: Will Smith, Antoine Fuqua Will No Longer Film Slave Drama ‘Emancipation’ in Georgia; by Sarah Whitten
The New York Times: Biden Calls Georgia’s Restrictive Voter Law ‘an Atrocity’; by Glenn Thrush, Nick Corasaniti and Thomas Kaplan
WDSU News: Will Smith movie ‘Emancipation’ pulled from Georgia over voting law now filming in New Orleans
Top and Featured Image Courtesy of Charlotte Ellis’ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Victoria Pickering’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License