Ramsey Clark, a lawyer who helped the Johnson administration pass civil rights legislation in the 1960s, has in decades since become a controversial human rights activist who has defended Saddam Hussein in court, has attended Slobodan Milošević's funeral, and has accused Israel of genocide.
Clark will be in Roxbury on Saturday night, discussing another controversial figure, former Marine Jimmy Massey. Massey is the subject of Joseph Stillman's "From Mills River To Babylon And Back: THE JIMMY MASSEY STORY," which will be screened by the the Roxbury Arts Group that night as the finale of its film series on the American war hero.
Massey, who was a Marine in Iraq in 2003, became a prominent critic of the war in Iraq after he left the Marines that year to help found Iraq Veterans Against the War. Massey became a lightning rod for criticism, and some of his claims, notably that he committed atrocities while in Iraq, have been attacked for being fraudulent.
Oneonta filmmaker Joseph Stillman spent four years making his documentary about Massey, interviewing figures like Clark about the former Marine's anti-war activism. Judging from the trailer, which you can watch above, Stillman concludes that Massey is a hero. According to a press release sent out by RAG earlier this year:
The filmmaker spent four years making the documentary which examines the political, legal, moral and human rights implications of the war and, in addition to Mr. Clark, features Martin Sheen, Cindy Sheehan, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Congresswoman Maxine Water, Scott Ritter, Father Roy Bouregios, Ret. Col. Ann Wright, Dr. Ed Tick, Doug Rokke, Jack Gilroy and numerous veterans and anti-war activists.
Both Stillman and Clark will be on hand to answer questions after the screening this weekend. For more information, see our calendar entry.
From Mills River To Babylon And Back: THE JIMMY MASSEY STORY. Saturday, May 21, 7pm. RAG's Roxbury Arts Center, 5025, Vega Mtn. Rd. Roxbury, NY. 607.326.7908 for reservations. $5 suggested donation.
