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New Documentary 'The Evangelist The Hitman & The ACLU' Now Available Nationwide

(PRWEB) November 28, 2009 -- 4DPictures.TV is proud to announce the nationwide release of the documentary feature film “The Evangelist The Hitman & The ACLU” by filmmaker T. J. McCarthy IV. The film follows the Rev. George Crossley, Jr. a former televangelist imprisoned for attempted murder who, after his release from prison, became the chapter chair of the Central Florida ACLU and led them in a federal court fight with Orlando City Hall which set a new First Amendment precedent.

In the 1980's and early 90's, the Rev. George Crossley, Jr. was among the “Who's Who” of the Christian Right in Orlando FL. He was sought after by conservative politicians for his ability to mobilize the followers of his TV and radio talk shows. He led the boycott of Universal Studios theme park in Orlando which resulted in successfully blocking “The Last Temptation of Christ” from being shown in Central Florida movie theaters. He helped to organize protests against abortion clinics, sex education in schools, adult bookstores, gay rights, and even rock concerts.

His career as a paragon of virtue came to an abrupt end on July 3rd 1996 when he was arrested for attempted murder. Ultimately he was convicted of trying to hire a hitman to kill the husband of a woman with whom he was having an affair.

After his release from prison, George returned to the airwaves as host of “The People Power Hour”, and returned to politics by becoming the chapter chair of the Central FL ACLU. When the local chapter of Food Not Bombs came to him for help with fighting the City of Orlando's attempt to ban their ongoing protests, he got both the local and state levels of the ACLU to support a Federal court fight. It not only overturned the City's ordnance, but also set a First Amendment precedent when the judge ruled that Food Not Bombs' protests, which consist of simply feeding homeless people in public places, were “expressive conduct” and thus protected as free speech.

Filmmaker T. J. McCarthy IV said of his new film “ It started out as a character study of this fascinating guy who had lived a very interesting life, and then became much broader and deeper as I followed his involvement in the issues of homelessness and government encroachment on civil liberties, issues that are problems all across this country. It was just sheer good fortune that I was there to catch this precedent setting victory in the ongoing struggle for free speech and social justice.”

The Orlando Weekly called it, “...required viewing for those that care...”

The film also features a cameo appearance from Rep. Alan Grayson in exclusive footage from an interview with him while he was on the campaign trail in 2008.

“The Evangelist The Hitman & The ACLU” is available nationwide now on DVD and Blu-ray exclusively at www.4DPictures.TV

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