Gravitas Ventures has unveiled an early teaser trailer for a film titled The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain, telling the real story of the killing of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. This premiered at both the Oxford Film Festival and American Black Film Festival last year, won top awards at the 2019 Austin Film Festival and is debuting in theaters and on demand on Sept. 17. Based on the true events that led to the death of Mr. Chamberlain, an elderly African-American veteran with bipolar disorder, who was killed by police officers during what was supposed to be a routine wellness check. Starring Frankie Faison as Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., along with Steve O’Connell, Enrico Natale, Anika Noni Rose, and LaRoyce Hawkins.
The Marine veteran, retired from the Westchester County Department of Corrections was killed during a wellness call from members of the White Plains Police Dept. in 2011. At 5.22 AM, he accidentally triggered his medical alert pendant. Police arrived shortly after. By 7:00AM, Kenneth Chamberlain Sr was dead. Ten years later, still no charges were filed in the fatal shooting, but his son Kenneth Chamberlain Jr., has never stopped fighting for justice for his father.
“For almost a decade the powers that be in White Plains have done everything they can to keep me from getting accountability in the killing of my father,” Kenneth Chamberlain shares with Black Westchester. “My heart 
still aches, the tears still fall but I have not and will not give up. It’s not real until it’s you. I continue to fight to get accountability in the killing of my father and now thanks to this film the world will know what happen to my father.”
In June 2021, the Westchester County District Attorney, Mimi Rocah, announced an independent review of the events that led to the death of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr. and Danroy “DJ” Henry (link below). In conjunction with The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain – The Movie (in the theaters and VOD September 17th), we hope the Chamberlain and Henry families achieve a measure of accountability of justice.
For those outraged and perplexed by these police killings of innocent African Americans, The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain follows a detailed account on how these situations with the cops turn for the worst. The movie is a haunting recount of the excessive and brutal force too often executed by the police in their response to emergency calls and non-threatening situations, and follows the 2011 fatal shooting of a 68-year-old African American vet by police in White Plains, NY. Chamberlain, Sr., who was bi-polar, had his medical alert device mistakenly activated. – Deadline.com.
The movement for criminal justice reform has taken on new momentum recently and Black Westchester believes this film will be an important part of that conversation.
“I was blessed with the opportunity to see a private screening a while back. When the movie ended there was not a dry eye in the audience. Men, women , youth , seniors, everyone was in tears,” Hector Santiago, founder of The Stop and Shake shared. “The movie is definitely a must see!!!”
The Killing Of Kenneth Chamberlain will release it in theaters and on demand on Sept. 17. While we are told it will be shown in a theater in White Plains, locations and showtimes have not yet been released. But stay tuned to Black Westchester as soon as they are, we will bring them to you here!
Everyone needs to flood the theaters opening weekend!
