On These Grounds

Film Synopsis

A video goes viral, showing a white police officer in South Carolina pull a Black teenager from her school desk and throw her across the floor. Healer-Activist Vivian Anderson uproots her life in New York City to move to South Carolina to support the girl and dismantle the system behind the assault at Spring Valley, including facing the police officer. Adding context, geographer Janae Davis treks the surrounding swamps and encounters the homes of formerly enslaved people of African descent, connecting the past to the present. Against the backdrop of a racial reckoning and its deep historical roots, one incident illuminates how Black girls, with the support of organizers, are creating a more just and equitable future for themselves and our entire education system.

Screenings

Apr 5, 2024

Presented by Union Presbyterian Seminary

Richmond, VA

Sep 26, 2024

Presented by San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum

San Antonio, TX

Mar 20, 2024

Presented by Duke Justice Project

Durham, NC

Mar 15, 2024

Presented by Round Rock Black Parents Association

Austin, TX

Mar 11, 2024

Presented by The Colorado Coalition for Restorative Justice Practices (CCRJP)

Boulder, CO

Mar 6, 2024

Presented by U.S. Senator Chris Murphy

Washington, DC

Feb 5, 2024

Presented by Boston Teachers Union

Boston, MA

Jan 10, 2024

Presented by Building 21 High School

Philadelphia, PA

Nov 18, 2023

Presented by United Church, UCC-DOC, Inc. and St. Augustine Quakers

St. Augustine, FL

Nov 12, 2023

Presented by American Public Health Association

Atlanta, GA

Nov 11, 2023

Presented by North Dakota Human Rights Film & Arts Festival

Fargo, ND

Oct 21, 2023

Presented by Justice + Witness Action Network

Catonsville, MD

Oct 19, 2023

Presented by Schools Not Suspensions

St. Paul, MN

Oct 12, 2023

Presented by Social Justice Film Festival

Seattle, WA

Oct 4, 2023

Presented by the University of South Carolina School of Law

Columbus, SC

Sep 29, 2023

Presented by Kean University Restorative Justice in Education Grant

Union, NJ

Sep 29, 2023

Presented by Tenants and Workers United

Alexandria, VA

Sep 23, 2023

The Summer Camp Society & Camp Stomping Ground’s Restorative Justice Conference

Middle Grove, NY

Jul 20, 2023

Presented by CoolineKids

East Palo Alto, CA

Jul 18, 2023

Presented by Children’s Justice Camp

New Market, TN

Jul 7, 2023

Presented by Wyoming International Film Festival

Cheyenne, WY

Jun 26, 2023 - Jul 2, 2023

Presented by Free State Festival

Lawrence, KS

May 2, 2023

Presented by Rockford University Forum Series and Education Department

Rockford, IL

Apr 21, 2023

Presented by Women’s Equity Center and Action Network (WE CAN)

Prince Geoge's County, MD

Apr 18, 2023

Presented by Coming To The Table & The Zehr Institute (Virtual)

Oakland, CA

Apr 13, 2023

Presented by Sister to Sister International (STSI)

Yonkers, NY

Mar 28, 2023

Presented by Don’t Shoot Portland (Virtual)

Portland, OR

Mar 26, 2023

Presented by Maine Film Center

Waterville, ME

Mar 10, 2023

Presented by Concerned Citizens for Justice

Chattanooga, TN

Mar 7, 2023

Presented by Boston Teachers Union

Boston, MA

Feb 25, 2023

Presented By The Sedona Film Festival

Sedona, AZ

Feb 23, 2023

Presented By The Sedona Film Festival

Sedona, AZ

Feb 22, 2023

Presented by Eastern Mennonite University

Harrisonburg, VA

Feb 7, 2023

5:30 PM

Presented by NYU Law Education Law & Policy Society

New York, NY

Feb 2, 2023

Presented by University of South Carolina Law School, Juvenile Justice Seminar

Columbia, SC

Feb 2, 2023

4:00 PM

Presented by University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Lincoln, NE

Jan 19, 2023

4:30 PM

Presented by Gwen’s Girls & The University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

Jan 16, 2023

Presented by the Zehr Institute for Restorative Justice

Harrisonburg, VA

Jan 15, 2023

Presented by Baltimore Hebrew Congregation

Baltimore, MD

Jan 13, 2023

Presented by Stanford World House Film Festival

Stanford, CA

Dec 7, 2022

Presented by First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn

Glen Ellyn, IL

Nov 16, 2022

7:00 PM

Presented by Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium

Selma, AL

Nov 15, 2022

Presented by Boston College of Education

Boston, MA

Nov 14, 2022

Presented by Office of Councilmember Will Jawando

Silver Spring, MD

Nov 12, 2022

Presented by River’s Edge Film Festival

Paducah, KY

Nov 1, 2022

Presented by Naperville School District and PTAs, Parent Diversity Advisory Committee

Naperville, IL

Oct 26, 2022

Presented by Hoogt on Tour

Utrecht, The Netherlands

Oct 23, 2022

12:00 PM

Presented by ChangeFest

Atlanta, GA

Oct 15, 2022

7:45 PM

Presented by Movies That Matter and IZI Solutions

Amsterdam

Oct 15, 2022

1:00 PM

Presented by The New Haven Documentary Film Festival

New Haven, CT

Oct 6, 2022

7:45 PM

Presented by Movies That Matter and IZI Solutions

Amsterdam

Sep 29, 2022

Presented by Gwen’s Girls and the Black Girls Equity Alliance

Pittsburgh, PA

Sep 23, 2022

2:00 PM

Presented by Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival

Atlanta, GA

Aug 2, 2022

5:00 PM

Presented by Woods Hole Film Festival

Woods Hole, MA

Jul 18, 2022 - Aug 6, 2022

Presented by Woods Hole Film Festival

Woods Hole, MA

Jul 18, 2022

Presented by Atlanta Children’s Film Festival

Atlanta, GA

Jul 15, 2022

Presented by Black Women’s Roundtable & Black Youth Vote

Orlando, FL

Jul 1, 2022

Presented by the South Carolina Academy for Criminal Justice

Columbia, SC

Jun 29, 2022

8:30 PM

Presented by Young Activist Coalition

Cincinnati, OH

May 26, 2022

6:00 PM

Presented by Fort Collins Community Action Network

Fort Collins, CO

May 24, 2022

1:00 PM

Presented by Grassroots Alexandria

Alexandria, VA

May 19, 2022

Presented by FAST

Apr 28, 2022

Presented by Root & Rebound, Black Liberation Fund, South Carolina for Restorative Justice and South Carolina for Criminal Justice Reform

Mt Pleasant , SC

Apr 28, 2022

7:30 PM

Presented by the Tulane University, Violence Prevention Institute

New Orleans, LA

Apr 26, 2022

Presented by Root & Rebound, Black Liberation Fund, South Carolina for Restorative Justice and South Carolina for Criminal Justice Reform

Mt. Pleasant, SC

Apr 26, 2022

Presented by University of Georgia School of Law American Constitution Society (ACS)

Athens, GA

Apr 26, 2022

Presented by Georgetown Law, American Constitution Society

Washington, DC

Apr 23, 2022

Presented by #Onebody

Buffalo, NY

Apr 19, 2022

5:30 PM

Presented by Providence Children’s Festival

Providence, RI

Apr 16, 2022

Presented by Integrate NYC, Peer Defense Project

New York, NY

Apr 16, 2022

Presented by Underground Grit

Los Angeles, CA

Apr 16, 2022

12:00 PM

Presented by the Peer Defense Project

New York, NY

Apr 13, 2022

6:00 PM

Presented by the University of Missouri School of Law, American Constitution Society

Columbia, MO

Apr 11, 2022

7:30 PM

Presented by the Somerville Theatre & Justice for Flavia

Somerville, MA

Apr 9, 2022

2:45 PM

Presented by the Movies That Matter Film Festival

The Hague, The Netherlands

Apr 6, 2022

4:30 PM

Presented by the University of Georgia School of Law, American Constitution Society

Athens, GA

Apr 4, 2022

4:00 PM

Presented by the University of South Carolina Humanities Collaborative

Columbia, SC

Apr 3, 2022

Presented by Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Salina

Salina, KS

Mar 31, 2022

Presented by the League of Women Voters of Illinois

Multiple Locations, IL

Mar 30, 2022

Presented by Root & Rebound

Greenville , SC

Mar 30, 2022

6:30 PM

Presented by the Roxie

San Francisco, CA

Mar 28, 2022

5:00 PM

Presented by the African American Policy Forum, Her Dream Deferred Series

New York, NY

Mar 28, 2022

Presented by Saint Mary’s College of California, Justice, Community and Leadership Department

Moraga, CA

Mar 25, 2022

Presented by Columbia University School of Law, Education Law and Policy Society

New York, NY

Mar 25, 2022

Presented by the League of Women Voters Illinois

Multiple Cities, IL

Mar 25, 2022

Presented by Madrone High School

San Rafael, CA

Mar 25, 2022

Presented by Creighton University School of Law, American Constitution Society

Omaha, NE

Mar 22, 2022

6:00 PM

Presented by Framingham State University

Framingham, MA

Mar 19, 2022

12:00 PM

Presented by Brother, Sons, Selves

Los Angeles, CA

Mar 17, 2022

Presented by NAACP DuPage County

DuPage, IL

Mar 12, 2022

Presented by the YSRP

Philadelphia, PA

Mar 11, 2022

Presented by Berkeley High School, Universal 9th Grade Ethnic Studies

Berkeley, CA

Mar 11, 2022

7:30 PM

Presented by the Little Theatre

Rochester, NY

Mar 10, 2022

Presented by Congressman Bill Foster

Naperville, IL

Mar 10, 2022

6:00 PM

Presented by Strom Law Firm

Columbia, SC

Mar 5, 2022

Presented by the Youth Justice Summit

San Diego, CA

Mar 5, 2022

Presented by Deerfield Academy

Deerfield, MA

Mar 4, 2022

Presented by a private individual

Los Angeles, CA

Mar 3, 2022

6:00 PM

Presented by In Our Names Network

Detroit, MI

Mar 1, 2022

Presented by Pittsburgh Book Club and Friends

Pittsburgh , PA

Mar 1, 2022

Presented by Sarah Lawrence College, Art of Teaching

New York, NY

Feb 28, 2022

Presented by the American University Washington College of Law

Washington, DC

Feb 27, 2022

11:00 AM

Presented by Providence Children’s Film Festival

Providence, RI

Feb 27, 2022

4:00 PM

Presented by the California Film Institute

San Rafael, CA

Feb 26, 2022

Presented by Mt. Lebanon Organization for Racial Equity (M.O.R.E.)

Mt. Lebanon, PA

Feb 24, 2022

Presented by the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers

Minneapolis, MN

Feb 20, 2022

6:00 PM

Presented by Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent School of Law

Chicago, IL

Feb 20, 2022

Presented by Jack and Jill of America Inc., Far West Region

Multiple Cities, CA

Feb 18, 2022

Presented by the Boston College High School, Students Organizing Against Racism (SOAR)

Boston, MA

Feb 18, 2022

Presented by Third Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

Feb 16, 2022

Presented by the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School

New York, NY

Feb 15, 2022

Presented by Boston College High School, Students Organizing Against Racism (SOAR)

Boston, MA

Feb 14, 2022

Presented by Maryville University, Office of Diversity & Inclusion

St. Louis, MO

Feb 10, 2022

6:30 PM

Presented by URBAN.Boston

Boston, MA

Presented by Wellesley College Project on Public Leadership and the UMass Boston John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs.

Feb 10, 2022

Presented by Changemaker Series

Naperville, IL

Feb 10, 2022

6:30 PM

Presented by FilmScene & Black Lives Matter at School Iowa

Iowa City, IA

Feb 9, 2022

6:00 PM

Presented by the University of South Carolina School of Law, Black Law Students Association

Columbia, SC

Feb 8, 2022

Santa Clara University School of Law, American Constitution Society & Women and Law Association

Santa Clara, CA

Feb 7, 2022

6:30 PM

Presented by the Alaska Black Caucus & Bear Tooth Theatrepub

Anchorage, AK

Feb 5, 2022

Presented by Association for Positive Behavioral Support, Board Members

Multiple Locations, PA

Jan 31, 2022

Presented by Colorado Circles for Change

Denver, CO

Jan 31, 2022

6:15 PM

Presented by Texas A&M University San Antonio

San Antonio, TX

Jan 31, 2022

Presented by Indian Prairie School District 204

Naperville, IL

Jan 28, 2022

Presented by Senator Laura Ellman

Naperville, IL

Jan 20, 2022

Presented by Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent School of Law

Chicago, IL

Jan 20, 2022

7:00 PM

Presented by South Dakota State University 

Brookings, SD

Jan 14, 2022

Presented by Girls for Gender Equity

Brooklyn, NY

Jan 5, 2022

Presented by East Aurora High School

East Aurora, NY

Jan 5, 2022

Presented by Archie Williams High School

San Anselmo, CA

Jan 5, 2022

Presented by Association for Positive Behavioral Support, Board Members

Bloomsburg, PA

Dec 27, 2021

6:00 PM

Presented by Maryland Congress of Parents and Teachers

Glen Burnie, MD

Dec 17, 2021

Presented by Prospect Hill Academy

Cambridge, MA

Dec 15, 2021

Presented by Strategies for Youth

Salt Lake City, UT

Dec 13, 2021

Presented by Unity Partnership

DuPage, IL

Dec 13, 2021

6:00 PM

Presented by Represent Justice

Los Angeles, CA

Dec 13, 2021

Presented by Oakland Unified School District

Oakland, CA

Dec 9, 2021

6:30 PM

Presented by the Berkeley FILM Foundation

Oakland, CA

Dec 9, 2021

Presented by Trenton Public Schools, Ninth Grade Academy

Trenton, NJ

Dec 9, 2021

Presented by Cicely L. Tyson Community School of Performing and Fine Arts

Orange, NJ

Dec 8, 2021

Presented by Naperville Community Unit School District 203

Naperville, IL

Dec 5, 2021

7:00 PM

Presented by National Black Lives Matter At School

New York, NY

Dec 4, 2021

12:00 AM

Presented by Anchorage International Film Festival (AIFF)

Anchorage, AK

Dec 3, 2021

5:30 PM

Presented by the National Campaign for Police Free Schools

Prince George's County, MD

Presented by Tenants & Workers United, Black Swan Academy, DefundNOVA, PG ChangeMakers Youth Division, Young People for Progress, and MoCo Against Brutality

Dec 1, 2021

Presented by School Board Partners, Our Collective Power (Virtual)

Dec 1, 2021

Presented by Curie High School

Chicago, IL

Nov 18, 2021

7:00 PM

Presented by Community Voices for Public Education

Houston, TX

Nov 17, 2021

6:00 PM

Presented by the Lawyers Committee for Children’s Rights & Nickelodeon Theatre

Columbia, SC

Nov 15, 2021

6:00 PM

Presented by Alliance for Gun Responsibility

Seattle, WA

Nov 11, 2021

Presented by Furman University Justice Forum

Greenville, SC

Nov 8, 2021

Presented by Curie High School

Chicago, IL

Nov 5, 2021

Presented by the California State PTA, Health and Community Concerns Commission

Sacramento, CA

Oct 31, 2021

Presented by Justice for Black Girls Means EveryBlackGirl 2021 Virtual Conference

Columbia, SC

Oct 28, 2021

6:00 PM

Presented by National Network for Justice

Milford, DE

Oct 26, 2021

5:15 PM

Presented by Democratic Attorneys General Association

Lansing, MI

Oct 25, 2021

Presented by an Evanston Community Group & Juvenile Justice Initiative

Evanston, IL

Oct 22, 2021

Presented by Cinemagic Film Festival

Belfast

Oct 18, 2021

12:00 PM

Presented by Education Justice Alliance

Durham, NC

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Galaxy Theatres Atascadero

Atascadero, CA

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Galaxy Theatres Victorian

Sparks, NV

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Galaxy Theatres Carson City

Carson City, NV

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by La Gran Plaza 8

Fort Worth, TX

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Cine America Houston

Houston, TX

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Emagine Palladium 15

Birmingham, MI

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Galaxy Theatres Boulevard Mall

Las Vegas, NV

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Lakeville 21

Lakeville, MN

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Emagine East Bethel

East Bethel, MN

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Emagine Portage

Portage, IN

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Emagine Canton

Canton, MI

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Emagine Noblesville

Noblesville, IN

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Emagine Novi 17 + Super EMAX

Novi, MI

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Cinema Chatham

Chicago, IL

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Quality 10

Saginaw, MI

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Emagine Birch Run

Birch Run, MI

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Galaxy Theatres Porterville

Poterville, CA

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by White Bear Township 17

White Bear Lake, MN

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Monticello 21

Monticello, MN

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Galaxy Theatres Mission Grove

Riverside, CA

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Rogers 18 Theatre

Rogers, MN

Sep 27, 2021

Galaxy Theatres Grandscape

The Colony, TX

Sep 27, 2021

Presented by Galaxy Theatres Austin

Austin, TX

Sep 23, 2021

7:00 PM

Presented by Emerson College Bright Lights Film Series

Boston, MA

Sep 9, 2021

Presented by Skyline Indie Film Fest

Winchester, VA

Jul 21, 2021

Presented by the Giffoni Film Festival

Giffoni, Italy

May 6, 2021

Presented by the Independent Film Festival Boston

Boston, MA

May 6, 2021

Presented by the Milwaukee Film Festival

Milwaukee, WI

Mar 17, 2021

Presented by the South by Southwest Film Festival

Austin, TX

Take Action

Join local and national efforts to end the over-policing of students, and invest in school-based counselors and mental health staff, as well as practices that create supportive, safe learning environments where students can thrive.

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About

Credits

Directed by Garrett Zevgetis
Produced by Ariana Garfinkel, Jeff Consiglio, Chico Colvard
Original Music by Chanda Dancy
Edited by Jeff Consiglio
Co-Editor Chrystie Martinez Gouz
Executive Producers: Kevin S. Bright, Ian Brownell
Associate Producers: Aisha Hallgren, Madison O’Leary, Eddie Wilson, Hong Zhu Cinematography by Alexandre Naufel, Christopher Lewis Dawkins, Pablo Durana, Ryan Miyamoto, Laura Kissel, Vanessa Carr

Impact Campaign

Today, police officers patrol the hallways of over half of American schools with very little vetting or oversight. Students — most often students of color, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ students — receive infractions from officers for adolescent behaviors that historically were addressed by school administrators, increasing the rate of suspensions, expulsions, and arrests of young people. Hundreds of thousands of young people are pushed out of schools and into the carceral system through police interaction at school.

Represent Justice is leading an impact campaign for On These Grounds along with the filmmakers, film participants, non-profit and advocacy organizations, and system-impacted leaders. Through screenings and speaking events, we are working to shift the narrative around safety in US schools, while generating demand for removing police from our schools and investing in school-based resources for students and educators.