Miami Beach Mayor Proposes Ending Theater Lease Over Screening of Palestinian-Israeli Documentary

Mayor Steven Meiner criticizes 'No Other Land' as antisemitic, prompting free speech advocates to condemn his actions as unconstitutional.

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.