Will Smith is protesting Georgia’s new restrictive voting laws by moving the production of their runaway slave thriller, “Emancipation,” to another location. The law, signed by Gov. Brian Kemp, has been described at the new Jim Crow because the measures enacted will reduce voter turnout among people of color.
“Emancipation” is the first big-budget production to leave Georgia and shoot elsewhere. Will released a statement through his media company, Westbrook Inc., explaining, “We cannot in good conscience provide economic support to a government that enacts regressive voting laws that are designed to restrict voter access. The new Georgia voting laws are reminiscent of voting impediments that were passed at the end of Reconstruction to prevent many Americans from voting. Regrettably, we feel compelled to move our film.”
At this point, it’s not clear where the production, which was scheduled to begin on June 21st, will relocate.
Source: Variety
