Threats made against Salmar Theatres staff have led to a decision not to show the controversial anti-abortion film Unplanned.
Salmar Community Association board member Chris Papworth confirmed Thursday, July 4, that the board has agreed to pull the movieB次元官网网址檚 five-day run, set to begin on July 12 at the Salmar Classic. He said the difficult decision to cancel the film was made out of concern for the personal safety for Salmar Theatres management, who had received personal threats via social media.
B次元官网网址淲e have a track record of showing things from a variety of points of viewB次元官网网址� we try not to preclude things because of whatever personal opinions may exist on our board or something like that,B次元官网网址� explained Papworth, adding it is not unusual for people to complain about something showing at the Salmar Classic or Grand. B次元官网网址淲hatB次元官网网址檚 different hereB次元官网网址� certainly in the past, there hasnB次元官网网址檛 been an effort to dox employees or, specifically, the general manager, by releasing their personal information on social media and then encouraging people to go after them as the one responsible for some heinous act.
B次元官网网址淲e just arenB次元官网网址檛 prepared for those levels of hostility towards our general manager.B次元官网网址�
Papworth said management has been encouraged to forward any threats made online to the RCMP.
The showing of Unplanned, a PG-rated movie from a Canadian distributor, had been organized with support from members of the Shuswap Pro-Life Society. Speaking for the society, Hildegard Krieg said they are disappointed by the cancellation, but respect the SalmarB次元官网网址檚 decision.
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B次元官网网址淚f they had just come out to picket while the movie is running, I could accept that,B次元官网网址� said Krieg. B次元官网网址淏ut I cannot accept that they should actually threaten somebody with violence personally and the family. That is absolutely uncalled for. A peaceful picket, OK, we walk through the picket line. But that is going too far.B次元官网网址�
Papworth is also uncomfortable with the precedent cancelling the film sets, but prioritizes the safety of Salmar employees.
B次元官网网址淚s it OK now on any given hot button issue to contact the manager on a personal level, letB次元官网网址檚 just harass her until she capitulates to our demands?B次元官网网址� said Papworth. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 like the precedence, but at the same time, weB次元官网网址檙e not willing to put our manager, who we value greatly, at any kind of personal risk in our community.B次元官网网址�
Papworth says thereB次元官网网址檚 still the option for Unplanned to be shown privately at the Classic.
B次元官网网址淭hey would then rent the classic and bring it in as a private viewing,B次元官网网址� said Papworth. B次元官网网址淭hat would be up to them. And we wouldnB次元官网网址檛 discourage anybody from renting the Classic and showing a film, whatever they happen to choose to show.B次元官网网址�
Krieg said this is what the Shuswap Pro-Life Society would likely do at a later date.
Unplanned stars Ashley Bratcher as a Planned Parenthood clinic director who becomes an anti-abortion speaker after B次元官网网址渢he day she saw something that changed everything.B次元官网网址� The film, based on a book of the same name by anti-abortion activist Abby Johnson, is set to play in more than 24 movie houses across Canada beginning July 12.
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