After some controversial voting laws have passed in Georgia, Antoine Fuqua and Will Smith have decided to withdraw production of their film, titled "Emancipation", from the state. They made the announcement today.
In a joint statement, the duo said, "At this moment in time, the Nation is coming to terms with its history and is attempting to eliminate vestiges of institutional racism to achieve true racial justice. 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 production work from Georgia to another state."
The film is based on the man called Whipped Peter, who had become well known after being the subject of a series of photographs he sat for, featuring his scars from being whipped when he was a slave.
