The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History hosted a film screening of “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” on Sept. 21, attracting approximately 70 attendees to the free event where they learned about the story of Liberian women who came together to end their civil war and find peace.

The screening was a presentation of the Community Cinema series in partnership with Independent Television Service, Detroit Public Television and Freedom House. The hourlong film, which won Best Documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival, portrayed women who came together to pray for peace and stage a silent protest.

“Armed with white T-shirts and the courage of their convictions, they demanded a resolution to the country’s civil war,” according to the film’s website. “Their actions were a critical element in bringing about an agreement during the stalled peace talks.”

The film portrays the Liberian women who took on warlords and the Charles Taylor regime to eventually win peace in 2003. It is believed that the war began as a result of Taylor’s allegedly corrupt administration and warlords who rose up against their government with bloodshed.

“Around 250,000 people were killed in Liberia’s civil war and many thousands more fled the fighting,” according to BBC News. “The conflict left the country in economic ruin and overrun with weapons.”

After the film, viewers who attended had the opportunity to discuss their thoughts about what they saw with panelists from Freedom House, a temporary home for survivors of persecution around the world seeking legal asylum.

Wayne State student Yolanda Jack, museum educator and coordinator of film screenings at the museum, said she feels it’s important to not only show these kinds of films but also to encourage discussion on them and attract the engagement of community members.

“We put on a film screening monthly at the museum,” she said. “There may be some anomalies, for example, during the summer we might take a month or two off. But from now through April or May, we will have a free screening either through an independent television service or through another organization. And we’re always trying to find ways to attract Wayne State students to come.”