Civil rights museum says no to immigration documentary

The International Civil Rights Center and Museum turns down a request by FaithAction and the Spirit of the Sit-In Movement Initiative to screen a documentary film about 287(g), a controversial immigration enforcement program that has been popular with some local law enforcement agencies over the past three years and that has been criticized as promoting racial profiling.

An unidentified staffer at Faith Action states three reasons the proposal didn't fly:

1. They don't want to work too closely with the Spirit of the Sit-In-Movement and confuse the public's understanding of the difference between their organizations.


2. 287g in Guilford County — they believe that this issue is too politically controversial at the local level for an organization as "young" as theirs who is concerned with the community reputation. Also, a county commissioner is on their board.


3. They aren't confident that it will ultimately make them any money. (If they knew that 10 people would join the museum because of this event, if we would pay rent for using the space, or if people would pay admission, they might do it.)

A writer for Greensboro Independent Media Center smells a whiff of hypocrisy, noting that the request was turned down despite that "one of the center's explicit aims is to engage in educational work around modern day issues related to civil rights and social justice."