On Aug. 13, 2015, the Tampa Bay Times reported that Muvico Sundial 19, the only movie theater in the city of St. Petersburg, will not be showing Straight Outta Compton, the biopic about the hugely influential gangsta rap group N.W.A. At best, this shows an incredible lapse of justice on the theater's behalf. At worst, it is outright corporate racism and discrimination. Please sign this petition to urge Muvico Sundial 19 to show Straight Outta Compton.

Muvico Sundial is one of four Muvico theaters owned by Carmike Cinemas in the Tampa Bay Area, the others being Muvico Theaters Palm Harbor 10, Muvico Centro Ybor 20, and Muvico Starlight 20. All three of these other theaters will be showing the film, which is predicted to top the box office in its opening weekend. Muvico Sundial will not.

In the absence of justification from the theater, this decision would appear to be a knee-jerk reaction to past issues of crime and violence at the shopping and entertainment center formerly known as BayWalk. Sundial St. Pete, as the complex is now known, has since revitalized it's image, becoming an upscale shopping and dining mecca. It would be reasonable to assume that the large security force now patrolling the complex on a nightly basis is more than enough to prevent criminal activity. However, by choosing not to show this film, the decision-makers at Muvico Sundial and Carmike Cinemas appear to have bypassed reason, making grave assumptions about the film's audience, it's content, and the citizens of St. Petersburg.

It is possible that the absence of this film at Muvico Sundial is merely a technical glitch or a scheduling oversight. However, it's impossible to tell: as of Aug. 13, any inquiries into the matter have been met with silence from Muvico Sundial and its parent company. It is also possible that the theater is bending to pressure from Sundial St. Pete's ownership or tenants, or else some other outside influence. In that case, this decision would not only be backwards and offensive, but spineless as well.

We urge Muvico Sundial to show Straight Outta Compton. If they do not, we urge them to justify their decision. If the decision is unjustified or of malicious intent, it may be time for the filmgoers of St. Petersburg to take their business elsewhere.