Spotlight: The Letter - An American Town and "The Somali Invasion"
In The Letter, director Ziad H. Hamzeh explores what American news outlets have dubbed the Somali Invasion of Lewiston, Maine – an insulated, predominantly white, former mill town struggling to maintain its equilibrium in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy.
A firestorm of controversy erupts when Lewiston Mayor Larry Raymond sends an open letter to the 1,100 newly-arrived Somali refugees. He informs them that the city’s resources are strained to the limit and asks them to tell other Somalis not to move to the city, a move interpreted as racism by some and as a rallying cry by white supremacist groups across the United States.
The Letter documents the ensuing cross-current of emotions and events, culminating in an anti-immigrant rally convened by The World Church of the Creator and a counter demonstration involving nearly 4,000 Lewiston residents supporting ethnic and cultural diversity.
To learn more about this film, visit Arab Film.
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Spotlight Related Websites:
Fair Immigration Reform Movement - Center for Community Change
Center for Immigration Studies
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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