Miami Beach Mayor Pushes to Shut Down Theater Over Palestinian Documentary

O Cinema faces eviction and funding cuts after screening 'No Other Land,' as free speech advocates challenge the move as unconstitutional censorship.

Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner has proposed evicting O Cinema and revoking its city funding after the theater screened 'No Other Land,' a documentary about Palestinian displacement.
The Miami Beach City Commission will vote on the proposal on Wednesday, with legal experts and free speech advocates warning the action could violate the First Amendment.
O Cinema CEO Vivian Marthell reversed an initial decision to cancel the screening, citing the importance of free speech and the theater's mission to showcase diverse perspectives.
Critics, including PEN America, argue that the city's actions amount to censorship and set a dangerous precedent for government interference in the arts.
The controversy highlights broader tensions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the film receiving both praise and criticism for its portrayal of displacement and resistance.