Overview

• Mayor Steven Meiner has introduced a resolution to terminate O Cinema's lease and revoke $40,000 in city funding after the theater screened 'No Other Land,' an Oscar-winning documentary about Palestinian displacement in the West Bank.
• Meiner described the film as 'one-sided propaganda' and 'antisemitic,' arguing it conflicts with the values of Miami Beach, a city with a significant Jewish population.
• O Cinema initially canceled the screenings after the mayor's objections but reversed its decision, citing the importance of free speech and the need to present diverse perspectives.
• The ACLU of Florida and other civil rights advocates have criticized the mayor's actions, calling them a violation of the First Amendment and a form of censorship.
• City commissioners are set to vote on the resolution next week, while screenings of 'No Other Land' at O Cinema have sold out following the controversy.