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Sometimes the People Win

This news item caught my eye in mid-march because it was happening in my old hometown of Miami Beach. And then it captured the attention of people around the world due to its flagrant attempt to suppress our constitutionally protected freedom of speech.

It has also turned into an object lesson about what people can do to prevent government officials from committing something both illegal and intolerable.

The news item concerned the mayor of Miami Beach, Steven Meiner, who is, apparently, a Zionist Jew. He had proposed that the city should terminate the lease held by O Cinema, and demand the return of a $40,000 city grant. The theater, which shows a variety of independent films, including an annual Jewish film festival, rents a space owned by the city.

What was the theater’s crime, according to Meiner? It had screened the Academy Award winning documentary, “No Other Land.” He called the film “egregiously anti-Semitic” and “a public safety threat.” Meiner had initially told the 69-seat theater not to show the film, but they went ahead with it anyway because they felt it was true to O Cinema’s mission.

“(It) is a false one-sided propaganda attack on the Jewish people that is not consistent with the values of our city and our residents,” Meiner said.

But, apparently he was misinformed about the city’s values because every showing played to a sold out  audience.

The film includes footage of Israeli soldiers and settlers destroying buildings in the West Bank Palestinian village of Masafer Yatta,mostly shot by one of the co-directors, villager Basel Adra. The other co-director is Jewish Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham.

In the week between Meiner announcing his proposal and March 19 when he withdrew it at a meeting of the Miami Beach City Commission, it became big news, including in such media as “The Times of Israel,” “Mother Jones,” National Public Radio, the “New York Times,” and NBC.

Then there was a major backlash. 0ver 700 filmmakers – including Michael Moore and Miami-born “Moonlight” director Barry Jenkins, signed an open letter to the city saying Meiner’s proposal was “an attack on freedom of expression.” The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and the Miami-based Community Justice Project were ready to represent O Cinema if the case ended up in court.

Even more importantly the commission meeting was packed with people, the majority of whom opposed Meiner ‘s resolution. One of the many hand written signs said, “En este pais todavia somos libres.” (In this country everyone is free.) Here were the real values of the community on display, no matter what Meiner was claiming.

So Meiner backed down, withdrawing his proposal. Five of the six city commissioners said they wouldn’t have voted for it anyway, even though one said she supported Israel but did not support censorship.

In the course of a single week the people blew away a paper dragon who claimed to be protecting his city, but was really trying to force his own values on its residents.

These are treacherous times and many people are overwhelmed, wondering what they can do to protect themselves, their neighbors and the world. But the brave residents of Miami Beach, who stood up to a man threatening their freedom, are a shining example of the time-honored precept, “El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido.” (The people united will never be defeated.)

Any effort taken in the direction of what is beneficial to the people and the planet is a step in the right direction, such as demanding that local officials honor the US Constitution’s First Amendment, or just standing on the street corner with others, holding signs and flags and letting neighbors know they are not alone.

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by Lois Pearlman

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