Articles
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, July 2008, page 68
Muslim-American Activism
CAIR Prevails on Al-Arian Screening
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FOR MORE THAN two weeks, the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) advertised a private screening of “USA vs. al-Arian” on April 17 at Starplex Cinemas in Irvine, CA.
Unknown to CAIR, anti-Muslim forces in Orange County persuaded Starplex Cinemas to back out of a signed contract to show the film. Starplex notified CAIR of the cancellation only three days before the screening. Luckily, the much larger Edwards Cinema complex agreed at the last minute to show the film that day.
Even though anti-Muslim forces pressured Edwards management not to show the film, Edwards stood by its agreement to CAIR. News of the Starplex cancellation generated more interest in the Muslim community, and a standing-room-only audience showed up April 17.
A panel discussion following the screening featured Laila Al-Arian, the daughter of the unfairly incarcerated Dr. Sami al-Arian.
—Munira Syeda
