Protesters disrupt 'Sniper' screening, arrested at Eastern Michigan
Four students at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) were arrested Friday after disrupting and causing the cancellation of a screening of American Sniper.
The Echo, EMU’s student newspaper, reported that roughly 35 students walked onto the stage at the Student Center Auditorium in protest during the 8P.M. screening of the Academy Award-winning film. The group of students worked together to try to shut down the 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. screenings of the film about the deceased Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle.
Protest leaders Ahmed Abbas, Layali Alsadah, Jenna Hamed, and Sabreen Dari were arrested after attempting to shut down the 8 P.M. screening. The protesters were successful in getting the 10 P.M. screening cancelled.
“Once the film started the protesters moved into the theater and disrupted the movie. Department of Public Safety officers were summoned and the protesters were given several warnings. Four protesters were arrested and released shortly thereafter without any charges being sought,” Geoff Larcom, EMU spokesperson, told Campus Reform.
Lacom said that after the students were escorted out, the first showing of the film resumed and finished without interruption. He also noted that the second showing of the movie was cancelled because of the late time and there is further discussion about showing the cancelled screening.
However, according to Student Body President Desmond Miller, the decision to cancel the second showing was a joint-decision he made with EMU President Susan Martin, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Calvin Phillips, and Campus Life coordinator of arts, entertainment and marketing Gregg Costanzo.
http://www.campusreform.org/?ID=6446
