The Ritzy cinema in Brixton has added shame to controversy by deciding to cancel the screenings of Ken Fero and Tariq Mehmood's Injustice.
The cinema was due to run the film, which documents examples of police brutality that ended in death on a number of occasions, twice daily for a week.
The Curzon Soho risked all by showing the film to a packed house a fortnight ago at the Black Filmmaker Magazine Film Festival, the first such screening at a cinema after repeated last minute cancellations resulting from Police Federation pressure.
The film prompted police intervention of late when a screening of Conway Hall in London saw the audience barricade themselves in to prevent intervention.
Reggae Tycoon Chris Blackwell's Island Group, who own the Ritzy buckled just days before the run was due to start on legal advice, ie, without any such pressure. A spokewoman said, We made a business decision based on advice from our lawyers. We cannot risk everything for the sake of one film."
Ken Fero simply stated that the families of those involved are "really upset and angry," and described the action as, "cowardly and unbelievable."
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The cinema was due to run the film, which documents examples of police brutality that ended in death on a number of occasions, twice daily for a week.