In 2014, in broad daylight in downtown Milwaukee, an officer responding to a complaint approached Dontre Hamilton, an unarmed black man with paranoid schizophrenia, who was resting in a park.
Minutes later, Hamilton was shot 14 times and died. Erik Ljung‘s documentary, The Blood is at the Doorstep, chronicles that police shooting and its aftermath, following the efforts of Hamilton’s family as they seek answers, and exploring the impact of the case on the surrounding community.
The Blood is at the Doorstep will be shown at Elmhurst College later this month as part of this year’s Andrew K. Prinz Guestship for Political Awareness. A discussion with Ljung and two members of the Hamilton family will follow the screening. Ljung is a freelance producer and director of photography who has produced content and short documentaries for The New York Times, VICE News, Al Jazeera, PBS and the Wall Street Journal.
Blood is at the Doorstep begins at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 23, in the Schaible Science Center, Illinois Hall. Admission is free but seating is limited, so attendees are encouraged to RSVP.