Miami Beach mayor proposes ending O Cinema’s lease over showing ‘No Other Land,’ calling it antisemitic!

The screening of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land has sparked a heated dispute in Miami Beach, with Mayor Steven Meiner seeking to terminate the lease of O Cinema, the city’s only arthouse theater, and revoke nearly $80,000 in grant funding.

The film, directed by a collective of Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers, documents the destruction of Palestinian villages in the West Bank. While it has received international acclaim, Meiner has condemned it as antisemitic, citing statements made by the filmmakers during their Oscar acceptance speech. In a letter to O Cinema, he called the documentary “Jew-hatred propaganda” and demanded its removal from the theater’s lineup.

O Cinema initially acknowledged Meiner’s concerns and considered pulling the film, but screenings proceeded as scheduled, selling out quickly. In response, Meiner has proposed legislation to evict the theater from its city-owned location and cut off its funding, arguing that taxpayer dollars should not support content that he believes promotes hate.

The controversy has ignited a broader debate over censorship and free speech. Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez defended O Cinema, highlighting its history of showcasing Jewish films and warning that removing its lease could lead to costly legal battles. Other officials, however, support Meiner’s stance, emphasizing Miami Beach’s commitment to its Jewish community.

The city commission is set to vote on Meiner’s proposal next week, with the decision potentially shaping the future of arts funding and political expression in Miami Beach.

Read the full story at https://wsvn.com/entertainment/miami-beach-mayor-proposes-ending-o-cinemas-lease-over-showing-oscar-winner-no-other-land-calling-it-antisemitic/