Selma to Be Screened at United Nations 23 April

The United Nations Department of Public Information, the United States Mission to the United Nations and Paramount Pictures will organize a special screening of the movie Selma for the United Nations diplomatic community and staff members.  The event will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, 23 April, at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Selma tells the story of how Martin Luther King Jr. led the epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, to secure equal voting rights in an event that forever altered history.  2015 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the legendary march.  Maher Nasser, Director of the Outreach Division, will introduce the event and welcome opening remarks by Cristina Gallach, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, and Samantha Power, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations.

The screening will be followed by a discussion with the film’s director, Ava DuVernay, and Mr. Nasser, moderated by National Public Radio host and special correspondent Michele Norris.  A group of 50 students representing schools in New York and New Jersey will also have the opportunity to meet with Ms. DuVernay at United Nations Headquarters.

“It is absolutely vital that the dangers inherent in racism are made crystal clear to all.  The Department of Public Information’s Remember Slavery Programme educates about the Transatlantic Slave Trade and how intolerance can easily shift from an attitude into acts of hatred and violence,” said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The United Nations Department of Public Information is organizing the screening as part of the Remember Slavery Programme and to help mark the International Decade for People of African Descent, which will be observed from 2015 to 2024 as called for by the United Nations General Assembly.

The Remember Slavery Programme is managed by the Department of Public Information and was established by the General Assembly in 2007 to honour the memory of the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.  The programme also aims to raise awareness of the dangers of racism and prejudice today with activities held and educational materials produced throughout the year.

On 25 March 2015, a permanent memorial to honour the victims of slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, “The Ark of Return”, was unveiled at the United Nations.  Located on the Visitors Plaza, the memorial invites people from around the world to acknowledge, consider the legacy and never forget this historic tragedy.

For media accreditation, please contact the Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit.

For information on the Remember Slavery Programme, please contact Laurence Gerard at gerardl@un.org