Add news
News Every Day |

'Israelism' screening held at Northbrook Public Library months after free speech controversy

A documentary critical of Israel's treatment of Palestinians was screened at the Northbrook Public Library this week, months after the library demanded organizers pay a security fee that the American Civil Liberties Union called unconstitutional.

The library held the screening of "Israelism" Thursday evening without incident, followed by a virtual question and answer session with co-director Erin Axelman, according to screening organizer Anna Tarkov of the Chicagoland Jewish Labor Bund.

Her group had canceled two previous screenings at the library in September and October, she said.

Before the first planned screening, the Chicago Jewish Alliance called on people to email and call the library to protest the event. The library responded by demanding the screening organizer pay $3,000 for security and insurance.

Free speech advocates called the cancellation a clear case of "heckler's veto," which occurs when a speaker is shut down due to the actions of a hostile crowd, the Sun-Times reported in December.

Organizers balked and began looking for another venue, Tarkov said. But the library dropped its security fee requirement after the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois sent a letter to library administration questioning the constitutionality of charging security fees in anticipation of protests.

Officers were dispatched at the library Thursday evening as potential crowd control "out of an abundance of caution," the village of Northbrook said in a statement.

Tarkov called the police presence "intense" and unnecessary.

Police blocked the street in front of the library and closed one of the library's two entrances, Tarkov said. About 30-35 people attended the screening, she said.

Axelman, in a social media post promoting the screening, characterized the event as being "un-canceled." He did not reply to a request for comment.

"After a mass outcry against this attempted cancellation, the Library is reversing course," the film's production team said in another social media post.

The library is reviewing the policy that led it to charge a security fee, according to Kate Hall, the library's executive director. In an email, Hall said the library's board discussed the issue at their January meeting, and the library is pursuing changes to the policy in May. "However, as always we remain committed to the First Amendment right of free speech," Hall said.

The Chicago Jewish Alliance told the Sun-Times in December it was open to attending a screening to discuss the film's ideas. But on Wednesday the group said in a social media post that it would not attend the screening, which fell on the Jewish holiday Purim.

The organization said it was not satisfied with the Q&A format and would have preferred a formal debate on the film. The group claimed that the film spreads "misinformation."

After the screening, the organization criticized how the debate was framed as a free speech issue.

"This isn’t a First Amendment issue — you can stream the film anywhere," the Chicago Jewish Alliance said in the statement. "This is about deliberately provoking Jewish communities with films that incite hostility. They refused to debate us and instead bragged about being on streaming platforms. If your film is so accessible, why the need to force it into Jewish spaces?"

The film's website says it's about "when two young American Jews raised to unconditionally love Israel witness the brutal way Israel treats Palestinians, their lives take sharp left turns."

It won several awards at film festivals in 2023. But the film sparked renewed controversy in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel.

Tarkov said she knows several other organizers who have screened similar documentaries, including "Israelism," have not faced such intense public response.

"They haven't had any issues," she said.

Москва

Толпу пешеходов в центре Москвы сбил научный сотрудник института океанологии

Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

Guardians AL Central Foes Preview: Minnesota Twins

UBS follows Deutsche Bank by banning staff from working remotely on both Friday and Monday

Cincinnati Reds Opening Day Roster Projection, Volume II

Orlando emerges as a potential destination for the Rays

Ria.city
Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "16 марта 2024 в г.Колумбус запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...






Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "16 марта 2024 в г.Колумбус запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...


Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "16 марта 2024 в г.Колумбус запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...

Read also

Popular NYC bar sells novelty St. John’s beer for March Madness

Celtics Make Surprising, Positive Kristaps Porzingis Announcement

A ‘Sputnik Moment’ for America’s Schools

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

“Giannis playing well in his audition game to join Luka” — Lakers fans react to blowout loss to Bucks

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

Cincinnati Reds Opening Day Roster Projection, Volume II



Sports today


Новости тенниса
Александр Бублик

«Мне на это плевать». Бублик сцепился с соперником после матча в США. Видео



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Овчинский: в офисном квартале у метро «ЦСКА» начались монолитные работы



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Даниил Медведев проиграл в полуфинале турнира Masters в Индиан-Уэллсе


Новости России

Game News

В Android-версию Genshin Impact добавят полную поддержку контроллеров


Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Russian.city

Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this


Game News

Alienware 27 AW2725Q QD-OLED review


Губернаторы России
Владимир Путин

Путин и Лукашенко осудили агрессивную политику Евросоюза против Минска и Москвы


это строка мета тайтл - заполненные данные реальные

А им самим не страшно? 150 тысяч мигрантов незаконно легализовали в Санкт-Петербурге

Удар по кошельку. Сколько стоит ошибка при утилизации бытовой техники

DатаРу запускает программу поддержки технологических стартапов


Бутман: в городах России надо создать условия, чтобы студенты хотели вернуться

Мама Тимати призналась, что страдает паническими атаками

Самарских авторов и исполнителей приглашают принять участие во Всероссийской патриотической акции "Песни нашего полка"

Владимир Спиваков впервые за 20 лет выступит в качестве скрипача


Мирра Андреева триумфально побеждает чемпионку Уимблдона на турнире в США

Медведев оценил своё выступление на турнире ATP в Индиан-Уэллсе на 10 баллов

Андреева обыграла Свёнтек и вышла в финал турнира WTA в Индиан-Уэллсе

Соболенко стала полуфиналисткой турнира WTA-1000 в Индиан-Уэллсе


Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine


это строка мета тайтл - заполненные данные реальные

это строка мета тайтл - заполненные данные реальные

В Вологодской области стартует проект «Движение по вертикали. Памяти Станислава Говорухина»

это строка мета тайтл - заполненные данные реальные


Клишас: Матвиенко не предлагала запрещать студентам поступать в вузы столиц

«Предсказать исход предстоящей игры невозможно» // Владимир Осипов — о дерби «Спартак»—«Зенит»

Как сэкономить время на уборке: выбираем клининг

Депутаты Нижневартовска познакомились с планами реконструкции городских систем наружного освещения


Страшные ДТП в Москве и под Рязанью есть погибшие и пострадавшие

Владельцев приватизированного жилья предупредили о новациях в 2025 году

Что ждёт Россию? Предсказания Матроны Московской, которые сбудутся в 2025 году

«Боинг» прилетит, «Сухой» отлетается?


Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine


Путин в России и мире
Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this



Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this



Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this



Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Персональные новости Russian.city
Денис Мацуев

Идем на "Трумф Джаза" и слушаем "Джазовые истории с Денисом Мацуевым": что интересного происходит в Петербурге



News Every Day

UBS follows Deutsche Bank by banning staff from working remotely on both Friday and Monday




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости