Miami Beach Mayor Withdraws Proposal to Defund Cinema Screening of *No Other Land*

# Miami Beach Mayor Withdraws Proposal to Defund Cinema Over Controversial Documentary

In a significant victory for independent arts and free expression, Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner has withdrawn his controversial proposal to defund and evict the nonprofit movie theater O Cinema. The independent cinema had come under fire for refusing to cancel scheduled screenings of *No Other Land* (2024), an Oscar-winning documentary depicting the Israeli military’s demolition of Palestinian homes in the Occupied West Bank.

## A Heated Public Debate

The decision followed a contentious city commission meeting on March 19, where artists, filmmakers, cultural advocates, and Miami Beach residents passionately defended O Cinema’s artistic freedom. The hearing featured testimony from leading cultural figures, including former Brooklyn Museum Director Arnold Lehman, who warned against government interference in the arts. Lehman drew parallels to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s failed attempt to defund the Brooklyn Museum over an exhibition he found objectionable.

*”Public funding for the arts does not allow the government to play the role of censor,”* Lehman stated. *”Although the government is not required to subsidize arts programs, once it does so, it cannot rescind funding or threaten eviction because it disagrees with a viewpoint expressed in a particular work of art.”*

Attendees at the meeting, including members of Jewish Voice for Peace and local activists, voiced their strong opposition to the mayor’s motion. Many wore *keffiyehs* and shirts with slogans like “Not In Our Name,” underscoring the broad public support for O Cinema’s right to screen the documentary.

## Mayor Meiner Backs Down

In response to the wave of criticism and national attention, Mayor Meiner announced that he was withdrawing the proposal to revoke O Cinema’s lease on city-owned property and cut its $80,000 in public grant funding. Additionally, he deferred a separate resolution that would have compelled the cinema to show an Israeli government perspective alongside *No Other Land*.

Local resident Alan Levine criticized the mayor’s actions, calling attention to the implications for Miami Beach’s broader arts scene. *”What’s next? Art Basel?”* Levine asked. *”Are you going to demand that they present exhibits that are fair and balanced? You hold yourself out as an art-welcoming city. These resolutions make a mockery of that welcome.”*

## O Cinema’s Defiant Stand

Mayor Meiner had drawn widespread condemnation for initially pressuring O Cinema to cancel its screenings of *No Other Land*, calling the film *“a one-sided propaganda attack on the Jewish people.”* While the theater initially hesitated in the face of political pressure, it later reaffirmed its commitment to screening the film, adding extra showtimes to accommodate sold-out crowds.

Despite international acclaim and awards, *No Other Land* has faced repeated censorship attempts and remains without an American distributor. The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) issued a statement denouncing the mayor’s efforts, declaring, *“When the government uses its power to suppress ideas it disagrees with, we all have a duty to object — even when, and perhaps especially when, we do not agree with those ideas.”*

## A Victory for Artistic Freedom

The withdrawal of the defunding proposal marks a crucial victory for freedom of artistic expression in Miami Beach. It reaffirms the principle that elected officials should not use public funding as a tool to silence viewpoints they oppose. As cultural venues nationwide face increasing political scrutiny, the events in Miami Beach serve as a potent reminder of the importance of defending the independence of the arts.

With its screenings of *No Other Land* proceeding as planned, O Cinema has emerged as a symbol of resilience against censorship — reinforcing the power of art to provoke conversation, challenge perspectives, and resist political intimidation.