Words by: Symone Daniels
A documentary titled Say Her Name: The Life and Death Of Sandra Bland about the 2015 death of Sandra Bland, who was arrested in Waller County, Texas after a dispute over a traffic violation between her and State Trooper Brain Encia will be airing on HBO.
Bland who was 28, was found hanging from her jail cell three days after being arrested, her death was ruled a suicide. After seeing the dash cam footage of Bland’s arrest many people did not believe Bland had taken her own life, which led to outrage and protests about the unfair and unnecessary harm done to African-Americans by members of law enforcement. The documentary was created by Kate Davis and Davis Heilbroner and will premiere on HBO on Monday, December 3.
Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland follows the Bland family and legal team from the first weeks after her death as they try to find out of what really happened in that jail cell in Hempstead, Texas. The filmmakers tracked the story for two years, drawing on key documents, jail footage and interviews with those closest to the events.
Interviewees in the film include: Geneva Reed-Veal, her mother; sisters Shante Needham, Shavon Bland and Sharon Cooper; Sheriff Glenn Smith, head of the Waller County PD; Elton Mathis, DA, Hempstead, Texas; Trey Duhon, county judge, Hempstead, Texas; Hannah Bonner, activist and Waller County minister; and family attorney Cannon Lambert.
Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and partners’ streaming platforms.
