Why The Family of This Slain Civil Rights Leader Is Pushing Back Against A Film About His Death

While some fans were excited to see actors Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Beharie share the big screen in their new film, “By Any Means,” others aren’t too thrilled. The reason has nothing to do with the talented actors and everything to do with the story they’re portraying.

“By Any Means” is described as “inspired by a true story” that’s centered on a young Black FBI agent (Abdul-Mateen II) who is sent into 1960s Mississippi to investigate a wave of brutal killings targeting civil rights leaders. When a leader he was close to is killed by the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), the agent is forced to work alongside notorious mafia hitman Greg Scarpa (Mark Wahlberg) and pulled into a deadly hunt where justice and vengeance begin to blur.

While that storyline may have Hollywood hit written all over it, Dennis Dahmer Sr. and Ellie Dahmer — son and widow, respectively, of Vernon Dahmer Sr., the Black voting rights activist whose killing serves as the impetus for the film — say it’s riddled with historical inaccuracies. In a statement sent to The Root, they said that the film’s narrative risks overshadowing Vernon’s sacrifice and legacy by focusing on secondary events and characters. Dennis also claims that the film leans into the “white hero savior movie trope,” that Hollywood power players’ favor over amplifying the true story of Vernon’s life, contributions and legacy.

“This story has always been about a man who stood for voting rights. He was killed because he believed every American deserved the right to vote. That is the story that must not be lost,” said Dennis Sr.

He continued: “My father did not die seeking fame. He died from smoke inhalation and severe burns after defending his family during a gun battle with Klansmen who firebombed our home while we slept. He was targeted because of his unwavering belief that every American deserved the right to vote. If people leave this movie remembering someone else more than Vernon Dahmer, then history has not been served.”

In a separate post to Facebook, Dennis Sr. and Ellie made it even clearer that the family opposes the film, calling out Abdul-Mateen II’s “fictitious” character and alleging that the film “over-exaggerated” the “minor” role Wahlberg’s character played in the real-life investigation into Vernon Dahmer’s death. Dennis went on to say that the film “commercializes a storyline” that’s not about who his father really was.

Additionally, Dennis and Ellie sent a request to the producing partners attached to the film to include a prologue that they believe would help preserve the historical focus on the deceased. What actually shows up on screen, however, are several cards at the end of the film that point to an alleged testimony from members of the Scarpa family who claim the existence of a real, unnamed Black FBI agent.

The family is also pushing for audiences to boycott the film and has created a petition urging viewers to stay away and the studio to add the prologue.

“VERNON F. DAHMER, SR. was a real person who fought (literally) & died for Black folks’ Civil & Voting Rights! This movie is a FICTIONALIZED VERSION of one lesser event surrounding the investigation of his murder,” the preferred prologue reads.

What complicates matters further is the fact that other members of the Dahmer family have taken the opposite route and decided to support the film, specifically Vernon’s daughter Bettie. She and other extended family members were reportedly present at the film’s premiere on Sep. 1. Director Elegance Bratton and producing partner Chester Algernal Gordon say they conducted extensive research in Mississippi and met with members of both the Dahmer and Scarpa families, as well as others connected to the events depicted in the film.

Speaking to their efforts, Bratton said: “Once I got a chance to meet and connect with the Dahmer family, it just meant a lot to me. I feel like Vernon Dahmer’s story is a story that people need to know, and I’m so honored that I get a chance to help the world become aware.”

One last thing to consider related to this film is its inclusion of Wahlberg, who has a well-documented history that includes hate crimes and targeted attacks on Black and Vietnamese people during his teen years. His selection to portray Scarpa, reportedly a racist mafia hitman, is also giving some potential viewers pause.