Press Release: January 9, 2008
Contact:  Henry Shelton, Julie Silvia or Liz Marsis (401) 728-5555

Pawtucket, R.I. — The George Wiley Center and it’s volunteer membership in the R.I. Campaign to Eliminate Childhood Poverty will host a series of free movie screenings of American Blackout, an award winning, independent film. The documentary covers the disenfranchisement of the African-American vote in recent American elections by following Cynthia McKinney’s congressional investigations of the 2000 presidential vote in Florida and 9-11, along a look at problems in federal elections in Detroit in 2004 and the campaign challenges of the former Georgia Congresswoman and member of the Congressional Black Caucus from 1993 – 2003.

Members of the public are invited to watch the film and discuss voting issues after the film at the following times and locations:

• Friday, January 18th at 6:30 pm, Bell Street Chapel, (off Broadway, near Toby St), Providence
• Sunday, January 20th at 2:00 pm, Mediator Fellowship Hall, 55 Rounds Street, (near Roger Williams Park).
• Monday, January 21st at 5:00 pm, Martin Luther King Day–NAACP program, MLK Center, 20 Dr. Marcus F. Wheatland Blvd, Newport, RI
• Thursday, January 24th at 1:00 pm, South Providence Library, 441 Prairie Avenue, Providence
• Thursday, January 31st at 6:00 pm, Slater Mill Theatre, located in Pawtucket Visitor’s Center at 175 Main St, Pawtucket

Running concurrently at Slater Mill Museum Gallery is featuring an exhibit: “The Cotton Economy & How a Single Plant Helped Forge the Destiny of a Nation”. And, at Slater Mill Theatre, there is a screening of Katrina Browne’s film, “Traces of the Trade, A Story from the Deep North”, on February 1st at 7:00 pm.

Note: To get to the Mediator Fellowship Hall, from Elmwood Ave, turn onto Roger Williams Ave., take second left at Narragansett Ave, and First right on Rounds St.