Press Releases
Congressman Mike Lawler Demands Answers From the Jacob Burns Film Center After Refusal to Screen October 8th
Washington, D.C. ,
March 31, 2025
Washington, D.C. - 3/31/2025… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler demanded answers from the Jacob Burns Film Center after news emerged that they have refused to screen October 8th - an important documentary that explores antisemitism on campuses, social media, and the streets since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack against Israel. The decision is called even further into question given that the Jacob Burns Film Center has had no issue screening No Other Land, a pro-Palestinian documentary that has proved controversial. This comes on the heels of the Jacob Burns Film Center’s hiring of Eric Hynes as Director of Film Curation and Programming. Hynes holds incredibly anti-Israel views, having signed a petition saying Israel is committing genocide and calling for the release of all Palestinian prisoners, including terrorists. He also signed another petition asking for the US to cease providing military support to Israel and calling Israel’s actions “apartheid.” Hynes has tweeted that Israel is committing “genocide,” claimed Israel was using the Super Bowl as “cover” to engage in military operations in the Gaza strip and were guilty of “supervillainy,” and stated that Israel is “deliberately starving Palestinians.” In addition, Hynes also expressed support for the antisemitic protests on Columbia and CUNY’s campuses last spring, claiming they were “peaceful” - despite their seizing of buildings by force. “I am appalled that the Jacobs Burns Film Center did not engage in due diligence in their hiring process, choosing to hand over the reins of curation at their esteemed institution to someone with deeply radical and anti-Israel views,” said Congressman Lawler. “This is a complete slap in the face to the Jewish community in the Hudson Valley.” “Unfortunately, this hiring decision has reared its ugly head in the biased choice to refuse screening of October 8th, a critical film that highlights the challenges faced by Jews in the US following the horrific October 7th attacks,” continued Congressman Lawler. “Given Mr. Hynes’ praise for the antisemitic protests at Columbia University and at CUNY, one doesn’t have to wonder if his personal anti-Israel bias factored into his decision to refuse screening this important film.” “The choice to screen No Other Land, while simultaneously denying screening of October 8th, calls directly into question Mr. Hynes’ intent, and given his long track record of being anti-Israel and supporting antisemitic protests, I fear the worst,” concluded Congressman Lawler. “The Jacob Burns Film Center should reflect on its choices and step in to ensure that there is a balanced set of films being offered to residents in Northern Westchester, not just one worldview pushed by someone with an axe to grind.” Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs. ###
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