Monday marks three years since Jordan Davis' death. For his parents Lucy McBath and Ron Davis, it has felt like an eternity.
Davis, a black 17-year-old student, was fatally gunned down at a Florida gas station by Michael Dunn, a 47-year-old white man who fired shots during an argument over loud music. Dunn was convicted of first-degree murder last year and sentenced to life in prison.
Davis' parents have teamed up with HBO to release a riveting film Monday titled, "3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets." The film depicts details of the shooting, portrays the drawn-out trial and discusses the role bias and stereotypes play in society.
"We wanted to make sure that we used our voice to tell our story, tell our truth and expose to this nation the dire need to change the gun culture and to consciously begin talking about implicit bias, racism and gun violence," McBath said at a screening of the film in Harlem, New York last Tuesday.
Directed by Marc Silver, "3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets” explores the intersection of racial bias and self-defense in a state that has passed the "Stand Your Ground" law, which allows a person to defend their own life using force if there is a threat or perceived threat, without first attempting to retreat. It also takes an intimate look at how Davis' murder impacted both his family and the community at large.
“"We wanted to make sure that we used our voice to tell our story, tell our truth."”
Filmmakers followed McBath and Davis throughout the months-long trial and captured tense moments that unfolded both inside and outside of the courtroom. They included upsetting remarks Dunn made during his defense, like when he referred to the song that was playing from Davis' car as "rap crap" and "thug" music.
“It’s very raw because it’s not scripted,” McBath told The Huffington Post. "This is our day-to-day existence while we were going through… trauma."
So far, McBath said there has been progress and that she has seen how the film resonates with people everywhere. It's even changed opinions.
"We’re absolutely amazed by how much support we have received and just how people have embraced the truth of the film,” she told HuffPost.
“We have right there seen people admit 'I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I was one of those people like Michael Dunn and I came in here believing I was gonna see one thing and I have completely been transformed. Thank you for exposing the truth,'" she added. "People are telling us that. That’s huge."
"3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets” premieres on HBO Monday night at 9 PM EST.
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