'AMERICAN VIOLET' BLOOMS IN THEATERS True story of bogus Texas drug raid victim Regina Kelley opens this weekend.

"There's no way possible I could have lived with myself taking a charge that I know I did not do. I was setting an example for my girls. And also, learning from my mom; she's always told me what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong, so why would you plead something that you just know you didn't do?"

      *In November 2000, 20 residents of Hearne, TX were rounded up and arrested on drug distribution charges.

      While on the surface, the raid seemed to be a triumph in the war on drugs, with 20 criminals behind bars. In reality, the event was an attack on African Americans in the small town of 5,000 people.

      All 20 were fingered by a hapless crack addict who later admitted he was threatened by authorities if he did not implicate 20 residents of the Hearne housing projects.

      The residents were booked and offered plea bargains if they confessed. Several innocent people took the plea bargain. Regina Kelly, a waitress and mother of four, refused. 
  
      With a battle than began that fateful day in November, Kelly became the lead plantiff in the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas lawsuit that accused the district attorney's office of targeting minorities.

      The new film "American Violet" tells Kelly's story of defiance and suffering. It stars Nicole Beharie as Kelly and features Alfre Woodard, Michael O'Keefe, Charles S. Dutton, Tim Blake Nelson, Will Patton and Xzibit.

     "At first, I didn't' know it was a movie," Kelly said upon being approached about the project. "We thought it was a documentary. I had done documentaries already. I didn't find out about the movie-movie until two months into filming. It was kind of strange to say 'a movie about me.' Who gets to say that? My mom didn't know. I didn't tell anyone in my family. I just told them two weeks before the screening in Hearne. I told them I needed them to be available one day and don't ask questions, just dress up and come on. My mom was like, 'Oh my God.' She was so happy. She was so thrilled. They were so proud. It was a great experience."

      "Everything is right on point," she said of realism of the true to life drama. "I've see it, I don't know how many times, and I still cry every time I see it. It's like reliving it over and over and over. They're so on point; it's amazing how close it is to my story. The film is 98% accurate."

      Kelly told EUR and other outlets that she was extremely excited about the film and has watched it over and over since its completion, but she said that its authenticity is rather saddening.

      "We're all excited about it, but watching the film, it brings back memories," she said.

      "The deposition was the hardest thing because the way they talked to me, it was as if I was nothing," she continued reflecting on the scene in the film. "It was so hard to just sit there and act like everything was ok and it really wasn't. It frustrated me because they really did not care."

Regina Kelly and Nicole Behari

      Actress Beharie was inspired by Kelly's story and anxious to take the role in order to get the story out to the public and bring exposure to corruption and racism in law enforcement.

      "I hope it affects people in the same way that it affected me. When I read the script, I was disgusted that it happened," Beharie said. "Some things happened in the beginning, but what she did in that moment [was] a totally different situation. I think that's what the film is asking you to look at. It's easy to say, 'Hmmm, four kids. Where is the money coming from?' and make the judgment that she did do this, or that she would do this, and also to assume that she wouldn't stand up because she had so much to lose.  I think that's what makes the film more powerful."

      While Beharie was impressed with the real-life heroine, Kelly explained that the feeling was mutual. She was quite impressed by the classical trained actress.

     "It was great. She's a very good actress and I'm so proud she took this part," Kelly said. "Nicole and I are nothing alike, but in the film she's just like me."

      Kelly continues to find strength in her children who inspired her to stand up to the police and the District Attorney as they hammered away, attempting to convince her of guilt.

      "There's no way possible I could have lived with myself taking a charge that I know I did not do. I was setting an example for my girls. And also, learning from my mom; she's always told me what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong, so why would you plead something that you just know you didn't do?"

      Charges were eventually dropped and criminal records expunged, but Kelly's life has never been the same. Standing up to the law and the city's District Attorney brought her and her family nothing but fear and misery, so she recently moved to Houston.

      "I was tired of making my kids join in this fight that I chose. It was time for them to be free and be children. I'm just happy to be gone. It feels good."

      "American Violet" opens in select theaters today. For more on the film, visit www.americanviolet.com. For more on Regina Kelly and updates on the Hearne, TX drug raid, go to www.reginakelly.com.

Watch the trailer for 'American Violet':

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