RUSH TO JUDGMENT

Rush to Judgment is a documentary and speaking tour about a brief encounter at the Lincoln Memorial that resulted in a viral video and social media mayhem. It brought death threats and hate directed at teenagers from Covington Catholic High School who came face-to-face with adult protesters. What can journalists and media consumers learn from this case and what does it tell us about the current divide in American politics? We examine these and other important issues in Rush to Judgment.
We won the Audience Choice Award for favorite feature film at The Anthem Film Festival in Rapid City, South Dakota. We also were honored to receive the Excellence in Filmmaking Award for feature docs. Previous winners of these awards include Poverty, Inc., The Cartel, and Raiders: The Best Fan Film Ever Made. We received a standing ovation during our world premiere at Rapid City's historic Elks Theatre. Anthem is part of Freedom Fest. Anthem Founder Jo Ann Skousen had this to say:
"Rush to Judgment is a powerful indictment of social media, instant journalism and the rush to grab a scoop. Steve Oldfield develops the story suspensefully in the film, guiding us through the growing realization that journalists and community leaders got it wrong.”
Filmmakers Steve Oldfield and Ryan Anderson are also booking speaking engagements for colleges and other organizations.

Documentary

Speaking Tour

Award-winning documentary filmmaker Steve Oldfield and producer Ryan Anderson are examining how the encounter at the Lincoln Memorial quickly became a viral story around the world and what went wrong when it came to covering the craziness on social media. The doc features exclusive footage, interviews and new information after a year-long investigation.

Director Steve Oldfield and Producer Ryan Anderson are available for a dynamic multi-media presentation for college students and adult learners. The engaging conversation is available both in-person and virtually. For more information, contact their agents at The Contemporary Issues Agency. CIASpeakers.com

“Rush to Judgement: Encounter at the Lincoln Memorial is an important film that today’s society needs to view in full. This documentary is far from a political piece and should be shown to all students and faculty who are interested in learning more about social media responsibility, journalism/media ethics, free speech, mindfulness, diversity/inclusion, and critical thinking. Don’t be so quick to judge this film by its cover jacket and promotional poster. It is a 'must see' that holds valuable lessons for every viewer.”
Steve Bush, Ivy Tech - Director of Student Life and Leadership Development

"I think this documentary should be shown at universities across the country. I've learned to remember that subjects of stories are human, and to treat them as such, even if it appears that I disagree with them ideologically, philosophically, etc. "
- Sara Wilkerson, student, Bucknell University Film/Media Studies Major

"It would make an excellent case study for journalism schools."
- Sharon Fox, Instruction Librarian, St. Louis Community College

Rush to Judgment is a much-needed cautionary tale; it calls attention to a society beset by tribalism, uncritical media consumption, and cancel culture
- Joshua B. Ivy Tech Community College

In my 30+ years working as a journalist and educator, the encounter at the
Lincoln Memorial is one of the worst examples of rushing to judgment I have ever seen. I hope to shed light on some serious issues in news and social media and help the next generation of journalists and content producers to learn from this case."
Steve Oldfield
Director, Rush to Judgment