University of Michigan Cancels Screening of Clint Eastwood film “American Sniper”

University of Michigan cancelled a screening of American Sniper by Clint Eastwood (one of the Oscar nominees in 2015) reported mediaite.com. The university made the decision following a petition signed by over 300 students claiming that the film promotes racism and anti-Muslim violence. It was also mentioned that the content of the movie humiliates overseas students and makes makes students feel unsafe.

“The movie “American Sniper” not only tolerates but promotes anti-Muslim and anti-MENA rhetoric and sympathizes with a mass killer. Chris Kyle was a racist who took a disturbing stance on murdering Iraqi civilians. Middle Eastern characters in the film are not lent an ounce of humanity and watching this movie is provocative and unsafe to MENA and Muslim students who are too often reminded of how little the media and world values their lives. What we instead should offer is compassion and respect towards others,” wrote the activists.