America You Kill Me Screening and Concert Coming to Willimantic October 8
WILLIMANTIC, Conn. — Willimantic Renaissance, Inc. will present a special screening of America You Kill Me, a feature-length documentary chronicling the life and trailblazing civil rights work of LGBTQ+ activist Jeffrey Montgomery, on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at EASTCONN’s ACT Performing Arts High School’s Capitol Theater in downtown Willimantic.
The screening will be followed by a special musical performance by legendary blues musician James Montgomery and Friends.
Proceeds from the evening will benefit Willimantic Renaissance, Inc. and the Willimantic Food Co-op’s Annual Pride Party, which Willimantic Renaissance sponsors. Both organizations are committed to inclusion, community connection, arts, culture, and civic life.
America You Kill Me tells the story of Jeffrey Montgomery, who became a nationally recognized advocate after the 1985 murder of a young gay man outside a Detroit bar. When police declined to investigate what they dismissed as “just another gay killing,” Montgomery found his life’s mission.
In 1991, Montgomery co-founded the Triangle Foundation to confront anti-gay violence and support victims of hate crimes and abuse. Despite death threats, vandalism, sabotage, and being placed on an Aryan Nation hit list, he became a formidable voice for equality. He challenged public officials, testified at hearings, demanded better media coverage, and expanded the organization’s work to address employment and housing discrimination, legal advocacy, and LGBTQ+ representation. By 2003, Triangle had become the fourth-largest statewide LGBTQ+ organization in the country.
The documentary examines Montgomery’s achievements and sacrifices while tracing the long struggle between an era when violence against LGBTQ+ people was routinely disregarded and one in which hard-won progress became possible. At a time when LGBTQ+ rights and safety continue to face renewed challenges, the film offers a powerful reminder of what determined individuals and organized communities can accomplish.
The event’s local beneficiaries reflect that same spirit. The Willimantic Food Co-op’s Annual Pride Party brings together members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to celebrate identity, foster connection, and create a welcoming environment rooted in inclusion, joy, and community care.
Willimantic Renaissance, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2002 to revitalize downtown Willimantic through the arts, celebrate the region’s diversity, build community, and strengthen the local economy. Its programs—including the 3rd Thursday Street Fests—bring together people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities while promoting Willimantic as a regional destination for arts, entertainment, culture, and commerce.
Tickets are available at riverroomwilli.com or through Eventbrite by searching “America You Kill Me Willimantic.”