The tragic death/murder of Trayvon Martin has been at the top of headlines in recent weeks, drawing controversy and criticism as officials have moved painfully slowly in arrested George Zimmerman, or even doing the basic groundwork of investigation, in a case that many feel has the markings of a racially motivated attack. But sadly, Martin is not the only young black man in recent memory to be shockingly killed by in a heated incident. On New Year’s Day in 2009, the 22 year-old Oscar Grant was pulled off a rowdy BART train at the Fruitvale station, and was shot in the back, dying from his wounds, with cellphone footage capturing the entire event. Officer Mehserle was sentenced to two years for the crime, and was released on parole last June. Events bear a general similarity to the Trayvon incident, and now a movie is on the way.
Octavia Spencer and “Chronicle” star Michael B. Jordan are set to feature in “Fruitvale,” an indie flick being produced by Forest Whitaker. Should the deals go ahead, Spencer will play Grant’s protective mother, with Jordan as the young man, in a film that will tell the tale of the last day of his life. Ryan Coogler wrote the script and will be making his feature debut and filming is slated to kick off in July.
Perhaps on the big screen, Grant will get some of the justice that eluded him in real life, but let’s hope that in the case of Trayvon we don’t have to wait for a movie to see his memory honored. [THR]
