Iowa Theaters Ban 'Fahrenheit 9/11'
New York Times
DECORAH,
Iowa (AP) — The president of a company that owns movie theaters in
Iowa and Nebraska is refusing to show director Michael Moore's
“Fahrenheit 9/11.''
R.L. Fridley, owner of Des Moines-based Fridley Theatres, says the controversial documentary incites terrorism.
Fridley
said in an e-mail message to company managers that the company does not
“play political propaganda films from either the right or the left.''
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Take Action!
R.L. Fridley, Owner
FRIDLEY THEATRES
1321 Walnut Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Phone: (515) 282-9287
Fax: (515) 282-8310
Website:
http://www.fridleytheatres.comEmail: beth@fridleytheatres.com
Blog For Iowa 
I just read about this in the Rapid Response Network's e-mail tree. I wrote and sent the following letter to beth at fridley theatres.
Greetings,
The decision of R.L. Fridley, owner of the only theatres in almost 30 small towns in Iowa and Nebraska, not to air Michael Moore's movie is bizarrely paternalistic, and his reason for his decision obviously false. If the movie incites terrorism, as he says, then our country would be awash in it right now, given the number of people who have seen the film all around the country. Those people include soldiers and church groups, none of whom have been incited to violence as a result. I wish the Register had said whether or not Mr. Fridley had seen the film before reaching his conclusion. I have seen it, and don't understand how someone could come to the conclusion Mr. Fridley did. Moore shows the human cost, in maternal, familial grief, of going to war. I've never found that to be a compelling reason for acts of violence.
It is a deeply and openly partisan film. Perhaps Mr. Fridley is terrified of disagreement with a President he likes, and he defines such behavior as terrorism. For those who are tempted to see this movie, and cannot resist the temptation on their own, Mr. Fridley denies them even the possibility of seeing the film. I trust they are grateful for his protection.
For citizens who do not fear dissent, they can go to the Varsity in Des Moines, the Campus 3 in Iowa City, the Showcase in Davenport, the Cinema 4 in Cedar Falls,the Carmike in Sioux City, the Cinemark in Ames,the Carmike in Ankeny or Johnston, the Cinemark in Boone, and the Carmike in Dubuque, and make up their own minds. Mr. Fridley might do better to worry about violence from outraged customers who have wandered into White Chicks after paying their hard-earned money for a movie.
Sincerely,
John McAndrew
1978 graduate of Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, IA
I am the coordinator for New Mexico's Rapid Response Network, and live in Santa Fe. It would be great to do an end run around Fridley in the 30+ small towns where his theatre is the only game in town.
Good luck!
John
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