Faith in Film: Refugees and Islamophobia Sunday

Faith in Film: Refugees and Islamophobia Sunday, June 11 & Thursday, June 15

Please join us on Sunday, June 11, at 6:30 pm for a special evening as part of a nationwide film series showcasing short documentaries from countries affected by Islamophobia. In addition to a film screening at Little River UCC on June 11, Little River UCC is co-sponsoring a similar event with Amnesty International of Northern Virginia and Interfaith Action for Human Rights, on Thursday, June 15, at 6:45 pm at the Arlington County Main Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., in Arlington.  Zainab Arain of the Council on American-Islamic Relations will join Rev. Lindsey in leading a discussion after the films. Little River’s participation in the film series is part of the church’s observation of Torture Awareness Month and World Refugee Day, which is also in June. June offers an opportunity for us to reflect on the imperatives for people of faith to oppose torture in all cases and to welcome refugees. Little River UCC has been keenly reminded of this recently by the vandalism we experienced during Holy Week because of our extravagant welcome to all people, including our Muslim brothers and sisters and LGBTQ citizens. This event and the ensuing response of solidarity from our community has deepened our awareness that standing up for the dignity of each person is a lifelong call from God. The June 11 screening will feature three short films about Syrian refugees. There will be time for discussion following the films. The evening is part of a nationwide film series called the Seventh Art Stand. The Seventh Art Stand is a series of films presented by community groups across the U.S. as an act of cinematic solidarity against Islamophobia. In May and June, screenings across the U.S. are showcasing films from countries affected by Islamophobia in an effort to build a tradition of sharing more stories, voices, and faces on our screens. Many of the films featured in this series offer viewers a window into the societies from which so many have come to feel they must flee for their lives. It is hoped that the film series will, in some small way, nurture empathy, the antidote to the bigotry that leads to violence and tolerance of violence towards people who merely want to live in our community in peace.

Also see https://www.seventhartstand.com/