St. Croix students attending public, private and parochial high schools are invited to a free showing of the motion picture, Selma, at Caribbean Cinemas in Sunny Isles at 6:45 tonight.
The effort was made possible through a partnership between St. Croix native and NBA superstar, Tim Duncan, and ViVid Streaming, an internet radio station.
The critically acclaimed film, which was recently nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, chronicles a three-month period in 1965 of Civil Rights Leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s quest for equal voting rights for blacks, including the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala.
Students are asked to arrive at the theater at least 20 minutes before showtime. Members of the ViVid Stream Team will be seen wearing identifying T-shirts at the entrance of the theater distributing tickets.
Organizers say students are not required to provide school identification, but are encouraged to do so.
St. Thomas high school students also enjoyed complimentary viewing of the movie last Saturday.
Noting their desire to provide “opportunities for the youth of the Virgin Islands to learn and grow,” organizers say “it is the sincere hope of Tim Duncan and ViVid Streaming that this movie will both educate and inspire the students who view it.”
The movie showing, in addition to the production of the Higher Level High School Show, is a part of a growing roster of youth-focused initiatives ViVid Streaming has rolled out.
The company is now planning a series of “Give Back” events to support the community in other ways. The first is a roadside fundraiser on Wednesday, Jan. 28 in St. Thomas to benefit high school football coach, Sherman Thomas, who is recovering from injuries he sustained after being struck by a vehicle.
To learn more about upcoming ViVid Steaming fundraisers, go here.
Feature Image: Dr. King at Aug., 28 1963 March on Washington.