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Greg Laemmle’s Statement on the Black Lives Matter Protests

June 4, 2020 by Gabriel Laemmle

Dear Laemmle Fans,

BLACK LIVES MATTER.

Why do we need to say that? Isn’t it clear to everyone that this is an accepted truth?

Sadly, the answer is no. If you truly look at our country today (never mind its history), it’s clear that American society does not value, love, or protect black lives to the same extent it does others. This is not a charge leveled at any one individual, institution, or even system. Rather it is something that we need to wrestle with as a whole nation.

There are those who say that we must have “law and order” before we can address the issue of systemic racism. First, I would argue that “law” and “order” are not one and the same. For too many, “order” represents a maintenance of the status quo. But given the historic and endemic inequities in our society, the last thing we should be aiming for is a maintenance of the current order.

Change is needed. And it is needed now!

As for the “law”, it should be clear that the “rule of law” is only applicable when justice is applied fairly and equally, not only by the police, but also by prosecutors, judges, and juries. When the law is enforced in a discriminatory manner, we should not be surprised when those who most disproportionately feel the brunt of that discrimination lose respect for the institutions that are charged with enforcing that law.

All should be afforded equal protection under the law, regardless of the color of their skin.

Justice must be blind. If it is not, it loses credibility, and that should be unacceptable to us all. If we truly wish to see love and justice flow like a mighty stream, then we must root out all discriminatory practices, by exploring meaningful ways to address the current situation, and to redress past wrongs.

Freedom of expression is a core American value. Here at Laemmle Theatres, we are a company that believes in the right to raise our voices in collective assembly and protest. That should be clear from the films that we play, films which help us learn more about how others live, love, and think. These stories help us see that there is more which unites us, than divides us, and we are proud to exhibit them.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t do more.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking a look at ways to further ensure that our programming choices remain diverse, democratic, and societally impactful. We’ll also be initiating conversations with local community leaders about how we can best engage underserved audiences, and help expose underrepresented populations to the liberating and creative joys of arthouse moviegoing and filmmaking.

While trying to fall asleep the other night, I watched John Ford’s classic western The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. The film is perhaps most famous for the memorable line, “when the legend becomes fact, print the legend.” It’s a great quote, but it reminds me that as much as we all want to believe in the goodness of our country, it’s time that we reassess some of the things that we take as fact.

There is a real danger to us all “when the legend becomes fact.”

Instead, we need to remove our blinders, check our privilege, and identify the hidden prejudices that we practice. Only then can we truly begin to understand what it feels like to stand in the shoes of those who have been victimized by racial discrimination. This reckoning is the first step in a long process that will, hopefully, lift our communities and inspire the collective humanity within us all.

I’m going to try to do that.

And I hope you’ll all join me in a sincere effort to make our country the “more perfect union” that our founders envisioned.

All the best,

Greg Laemmle

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Filed Under: Claremont 5, Featured Post, Glendale, Newhall, News, NoHo 7, Playhouse 7, Royal, Santa Monica, Theater Buzz, Town Center 5

Comments

  1. Gina O. says

    June 11, 2020 at 11:36 pm

    I appreciate what you wrote, Greg. Now I would like to see you go a step further.

    During all this time of the quarantine, your movie marquees have been silent in regards to messages to encourage the community. (At least the one in Claremont is, which just says Check in at Laemmle.com) Closed movie theaters across the country have been displaying messages of love and support during the pandemic.

    Now is the time to use your marquees for good! Why not put messages of solidarity for the Black community in the form of quotes from the greats, like James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, MLK, Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, Alice Walker, Spike Lee, Michelle Obama, the list goes on. You could get really creative with it and offer some hope and strength to us all. And of course you could put it simply, Black Lives Matter! Please consider using these spaces to give a visual to what you have expressed here, for many more people to see it and get it. Perhaps consult with friends you know in the Black community for quote suggestions. Now is the time for us to listen, and you have the unique platform to broadcast their voices- movie marquees!

    Thank you for trying to inspire the “collective humanity within us all.”

  2. Veronica says

    June 11, 2020 at 9:24 am

    Love your response and I love your Claremont theater. Please open up soon.

  3. Sam St. C says

    June 9, 2020 at 6:25 pm

    Laemmle theaters always had the most diverse films but actually lacked in those that are NOT left-leaning. if you are going to provide a truly diverse program, remember that all of your customers are NOT liberal and would like to see you embrace films from Conservative and Christian Filmmakers as well as those from the Asian, Hispanic, European and All Ethnic communities….I love your chain and I really can’t wait for you to reopen. Peace

    • cd says

      June 20, 2020 at 3:01 pm

      It is an independent theater chain that specializes in independent /foreign/ documentary films. they are not chosen to be “left leaning”. they have shown as many Asian,Hispanic, European, Middle Eastern and other ethic communities films as are available to them to program. This has always made up at least 50% or more of the their films. So I don’t see how they are not already “embracing”‘ these films.

  4. Carmen Gonzalez says

    June 5, 2020 at 8:47 pm

    I look forward to seeing your theatre chain embrace greater inclusiveness in programming and in its hiring. We can make the legend into reality.

  5. Judith Sullivan says

    June 5, 2020 at 7:46 am

    Thank you for your sincere and emphathetic response. It would be great if the movies you show could be more available somehow to minorities. I think your Virtual Laemmle might be an avenue.

  6. Mike ascher says

    June 4, 2020 at 8:21 pm

    Wow, wow ,wow My brother said everything I feel. He should run for president. Seriously, I love what he said & will try to live up to his values & beliefs.I live by this motto ” treat others( and I mean all others) how you would like to be treated”. If you do this 1 thing we could all live in harmony. Go Greeska.

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