Greensboro. Closer to the truth

Description

This documentary explores the Greensboro Massacre of 1979 and its aftermath. Members of the Communist Workers Party massed for a "Death to the Klan" rally in Greensboro, North Carolina when a caravan of Ku Klux Klan and American Nazis arrived. As the police assigned to protect the rally inexplicably disappeared, the Klansmen opened fire, killing five demonstrators and injuring eleven others. Now, a quarter of a century later, the survivors have finally come upon a way to get to the heart of what really happened by mounting a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2004-2006). The film focuses on five of the survivors of the attack, examining the paths they have taken since 1979. These activists have each struggled to stay true to their ideals. Two of the Klan figures -- one a former Grand Dragon who is now repentant, the other still an Imperial Wizard and staunchly unrepentant -- weave their own interpretation on the events and their aftermath. They all converge at the Truth Commission, the first time such an initiative has been utilized in the United States. Against the backdrop of a city which would largely like to forget the attack and pretend it never occurred, the participants come together exploring possibilities of truth, understanding and forgiveness.

Runtime

60 min

Creator

Zucker, Adam

Series

Subjects

Contributor

Geography

Genre

Date of Publication

2009

Database

Alexander Street

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