Staff report

“Democracy for Sale,” a documentary about North Carolina politics narrated by comedian Zach Galifianakis, will be shown in Salisbury on Tuesday as part of a statewide screening tour.

The documentary examines political spending in the state and how it has affected environmental regulations, voting rights, tax policy and education spending.

Galifianakis is a North Carolina native and the nephew of former Democratic Congressman Nick Galifianakis.

The Salisbury screening of the documentary will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Norvell Theater, 135 E Fisher St. It will be hosted by the Yadkin Riverkeeper. The screening is free and open to the public. The 45-minute film will be followed by a question-and-answer session and discussion.

No ticket is needed. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

A group of local residents reached out to the nonprofit group organizing the tour, Working Films, to request a screening in Salisbury.

“Sustaining our democracy is not a Democratic or Republican ideal,” said Tamara Sheffield, who helped bring the film here. “It is an American ideal, and it should always be a goal of any nonpartisan or bipartisan organization. Citizens must be educated on policies and issues. An educated, engaged republic is a powerful one – it allows us to make positive changes for all, not just a select few.”

Through the documentary, Working Films hopes to educate the public on political issues and provide opportunities for people to get involved in local organizing.

“This film focuses on something deeply important to me — voting rights. This is a nonpartisan issue,” said Teresa Rowell, who also helped bring the film to Salisbury and organized the recent March for Love. “I’ve been an election worker in three states since 2006, so I’ve seen the damage wrought by gerrymandered districts. “Voters find it hard enough to stay engaged and informed without having to deal with their districts evaporating in front of their eyes each election cycle.”

“Democracy for Sale,” which was directed by Lucien Read, is part of the EPIX documentary series “America Divided.” Executive producers are rapper and producer Common and television producers Norman Lear and Shonda Rhimes. The five-part series features stories about inequality in education, housing, health care, labor, criminal justice and the political system.

For more information about the North Carolina screenings, visit www.workingfilms.org/democracy-for-sale-screens-across-nc/.