WASHINGTON – D.C. Public Schools students will have the chance to see the Academy Award-nominated movie “Selma” thanks to private donations and the help of a local film festival.
The March on Washington Film Festival has raised $75,000 to send students in grade 8 through 12 to see the movie, which documents the voting rights marches of 1965 in Alabama and centers on the role Martin Luther King Jr. played in organizing those protests.
D.C. Public Schools is also developing guides to help teachers encourage classroom discussion about the film and its message of civil rights and leadership.
“There are always teachable moments happening outside the classroom,” Chancellor Kaya Henderson says in a statement.
The March on Washington Film Festival aims to share stories of the civil rights movement through film, art and music. The organization is hoping to raise another $25,000 to cover the admission of a total of 3,000.
Area business, individuals and organizations, including two teacher unions, have supported the effort. Similar efforts are underway in other U.S. cities including New York and Philadelphia.
Each dollar donated will fund the price of a ticket for a D.C. student. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made via PayPal. Find more information here.
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