Date Posted:07:52:56 09/02/03 Tue Author: Mary Acker Subject: Stop the Violence!
I wish to express my outrage about the documentary film Fight Night (www.fightnightthemovie.com).
Lately the phenomena of violence amongst and against children is on the rise. Recently three teenage camp counselors made the news in Richmond, VA for forcing young campers into bare-knuckle fights, then charging admission and allowing betting. Several of the children involved sustained injuries and one came away with broken bones. The children used for these fights will undoubtedly be scarred for life by the experience, and the teen perpetrators' lives will be ruined as they face a combined 24 felony and 34 misdemeanor charges.
The film Fight Night documents an even bigger account of exploitation. The movie displays the brutality of teenage kids beating each other senseless to the amusement and financial benefit of two Internet casino operators. The individuals featured in the film make large sums of money by allowing members of their casino website to place bets on teen fighters as they square off and pummel each other in a no holds barred brawl. Many of these kids are runaways, homeless, or drug addicts, making them easy targets for this type of vicious exploitation. The fighters wear no protective gear throughout these unregulated bouts, and the only way the fight stops is if a fighter goes unconscious or is forced into submission. There are no rounds or weight classes and most of the fighters come out of the fights (or are carried out) bloody, battered, and broken.
Fight Night glorifies violence involving children by putting the carnage on the big screen. It will give kids and those who would prey upon them even more exposure to the idea of underground fighting. The violence amongst kids is spreading like wildfire and movies like Fight Night are fanning the flames. If you don't believe me, you can see it for yourself at www.fightnightthemovie.com. If you find this unacceptable and want to see it stopped, LET PEOPLE KNOW!
