New APT documentary on Civil Rights icon Arthur Shores premieres February 15

On February 15, tune in to Alabama Public Television to see the premiere of “Defending Freedom.” The hour-long documentary chronicles the life of Arthur D. Shores, a trailblazing African American trial attorney who played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement. 

The program will be shown statewide at 8PM. 

“Defending Freedom,” is the seventh film produced by Longleaf Studios at Jacksonville State University. 

Who was Arthur D. Shores?

Arthur D. Shores played a pivotal role in shaping the course of civil rights in the American South. From his early days challenging segregation laws to his courageous defense of individuals targeted for their activism, he stood as a beacon of justice during some of the nation’s most tumultuous times. 

The first Black lawyer admitted to the Alabama Bar, Shores represented many civil rights leaders, including Fred Shuttlesworth and Martin Luther King, Jr. 

The gripping documentary features insightful interviews from the family and local giants in the Birmingham legal community, including Judge Houston Brown, Judge A.C. Clemons and former Senator Doug Jones. In addition, the documentary includes historical footage and photographs from the Shores’ family archive.

Congresswoman Terri Sewell, Mayor Randall Woodfin and former Mayor Richard Arrington also play a prominent role in the film.

The narrator of the film is local WBRC anchor Steve Crocker.

Partnership between APT & JSU

“Producing ‘Defending Freedom’ has been a profound experience, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Alabama Public Television for the invaluable opportunities it has created for our students. A special acknowledgment goes to the influential politicians and community officials who generously shared their time, emphasizing the significance of Mr. Shores to Alabama’s enduring legacy.”

~ Seth Johnson, director of Longleaf Studios and associate dean of the JSU College of Arts, Humanities, and Sciences

JSU’s Longleaf Studios is an experiential learning unit that provides film and communication students with hands-on learning opportunities to work on real-world projects with professional filmmakers. Eleven JSU students worked with professionals on the production.

After the February 15 premiere, the film will be available on-demand for free on the APT website.