FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - OCTOBER 30 Contact Kimberli Diaz, Larry Everest 646.709.1961, press@riseupoctober.org More Filmmakers, Families, People of

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - OCTOBER 30
Contact Kimberli Diaz, Larry Everest
646.709.1961, press@riseupoctober.org

More Filmmakers, Families, People of Faith Speak Out in Support of Quentin Tarantino and #RiseUpOctober, Oppose Police Union Threats and Boycotts

Rise Up October to Stop Police Terror, three days of resistance, bringing together diverse voices with the message: Police Terror Must Stop - Which Side Are You On? For his participation, Quentin Tarantino has come under attack by police unions in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New Jersey, who are calling for a boycott of Tarantino’s films.

Support is growing for Tarantino as more activists, families, filmmakers, artists, and voices of conscience issue statements backing him. (See latest below.) (Author Joyce Carol Oates tweeted, "Ironic that police defending police brutality plan to boycott violent Tarantino films.")

Carl Dix, co-initiator with Cornel West and lead organizer of #RiseUpOctober, called the police attacks on Tarantino "outrageous" and challenged police union officials to a debate. He told the Associated Press, "It really is an attempt to squelch any discussion by people in the arts or prominent people in other fields of taking up and discussing controversial social issues."

Carl Dix is available for interviews, along with some families who have issued statements of support for Tarantino. Related:
* Carl Dix Challenges Police Unions to Debate
* Read Carl Dix's comments on #RiseUpOctober and the attacks on Quentin Tarantino in The New York Times and Reuters

The following are the latest statements supporting Tarantino and #RiseUpOctober:

Carl Dix, co-initiator of Rise Up October, representative of the Revolutionary Communist Party
The police threats against Quentin Tarantino amount to a mafia-style protection racket, only the payoff being demanded is toeing a political line, not cash. 'Don't dare criticize police who kill people, or we'll make it impossible for you to work in our towns.' It is aimed at sending a message, not just to Tarantino, but to anyone whose voice carries great weight in society: if you speak out, we will come after you, threaten your livelihood and attempt to scare you back into silence. They want the people who suffer the brunt of this brutality alone and ignored. This is unacceptable.

Video after video has shown unarmed Black, Latino, and Native Americans being tazed, stomped, brutalized, and shot in the back by police and almost never are the police even indicted. What kind of society allows this? What does it say when those who raise their voices against this are the ones who come under attack? We must not allow the intimidation or silencing of those who use their influence to shine a light on the epidemic of police terror. Artists need to be able to express themselves on progressive causes without fear of retribution and attack. We will have Tarantino's back!

Cornel West, co-initiator of Rise Up October, Professor of Philosophy and Christian Practice at Union Theological Seminary
Can we keep the focus on what I, Brother Carl Dix, Brother Quentin Tarantino, Sister Eve Ensler, and THOUSANDS of others tried to do – a moral focus on the unnecessary deaths of those killed by police. Of course the killing of police is wrong but the killers do go to prison. Ought not policemen go to prison when they kill us?

Charles Burnett, filmmaker
I can't say enough about Tarantino. He said what needed to be said. I hope his rage encourages all of us to speak out against genocide. When his new film opens, I will be there to show my support.

Jen Marlowe, Author, Filmmaker, Playwright
It's absolutely unconscionable that Quentin Tarantino should face intimidation and threats for speaking out about state murder. As an artist--as a citizen--Mr. Tarantino's right to free speech and to dissent must be protected, not attacked.

Shaul Schwarz, filmmaker - Narco Cultura, Southern Rites
Police brutality in this country is an urgent problem and the last thing that journalists, artists and filmmakers, should be, is bullied to not say what they think, this is exactly what is done now to Tarantino and I think it's a disgrace.

_____________________________

Latest Statements from families of victims of police murder who were some of the almost 100 families who were in NY for Rise Up October.

Alice Howell, grandmother of Justus Howell murdered by Zion, IL police, 2015
Shame on you, for attacking such an individual who has a conscience and know that these murders are wrong and calling murderers just what they are… murderers. I commend you Quentin Tarantino for standing with the families, exercising your rights as a human being and Rising Up against these murderers. We will not be silent. We stand with you Quentin!

Nicholas Heyward, Sr., father of 13 year old Nicholas Heyward, Jr., murdered by the NYPD, September 27, 1994. He was playing with a brightly colored toy gun.
I need to give a big shout out to the brave and noble man, Mr. Quentin Tarantino who traveled to NYC to stand with the parents and families who have been fighting for justice for their murdered loved ones at the hands of police. He didn't have to make this noble stand, but unlike far too many who see this injustice going down on a nationwide level, Mr. Quentin Tarantino could no longer stand back and not say anything. So on October 24, 2015 he stood up with the families. And because he did what many are afraid to do and say, the police unions in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and others are going to boycott his movies, in a cowardly stand which is saying to all others like brother Quentin Tarantino with celebrity status that if you speak out against the injustice of this system, the system will target you to bring you down. Now I tell you brothers and sisters like all the other injustice of this system, this right here is wrong. And I am asking that everyone who believes in truth and justice to please stand up and support Mr. Quentin Tarantino for standing up and being unafraid to say: enough is enough. No more killing innocent unarmed humans nationwide and never being held accountable. We refuse to be intimidated by police and government repression or by threats of boycott on those who seen the injustice for far too long, and have risen up to support the families who suffer from this injustice system. Please stand up and support our brother, Mr. Quentin Tarantino.

Chris Silva, brother of David Silva, murdered by Kern Co. Sheriffs and California Highway Patrol, May 8, 2013
Quentin Tarantino showing up to Rise Up October is a great thing. Rise Up October is "trending," there's big attention and popularity, including because of Quentin Tarantino's participation (and I didn't expect it). It shows he cares. He knows he had to stand up to murder by police, and I thank him for being with us. He probably expected the "negativity" because we get it everyday, the families, and myself with David's murder over two years ago – all these internet trolls with their negative comments aimed at us... Quentin called out the NYPD and LAPD and all the cops who kill unjustly. He is not saying anything more than what these cops have done. I'm so glad he stood up, because many celebrities may wear a t-shirt but don't always show up and stand up for what they believe. This boycott call is ridiculous and it makes it sound like Tarantino means all police are killers... he didn't say that. He said there are murders and murderers, cops killing blatantly and for no reason at all. Recognize and hear the truth. I am sure many are telling him to stay quiet but Quentin Tarantino should know he has the backing from us families and many others!

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