FIGHT HATE WITH LOVE

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Like many in his Philadelphia community, Michael Tabon found himself stuck in the revolving door of a criminal justice system he calls a “womb-to-prison” pipeline. It’s a cycle many poor young black men struggle to break, but the cards are often stacked against them. In and out of jail since he was 16, Tabon has finally managed to stay free, strongly motivated by his newfound passion for activism. In order to prevent others (especially his son) from falling into the same trap, he travels to high-crime neighborhoods, finding unique and provocative ways to call attention to the issue. Whether it’s walking through the streets with prison garb and chains or building a jail cell simulation in the back of a truck, Tabon has been catching eyes and hearts with his message. But after years of separation, his family is frustrated by his obsessive dedication to his cause. Like prison, it’s prevented them from experiencing quality time together. FIGHT HATE WITH LOVE provides a damning exposé of our country’s failed prison system, chronicling one man’s very personal fight to fix it. —E.F.