A film screening earlier this month at The Loft Cinema sparked controversy and a protest from several members of the Tucson community. Many threatened to boycott the art organization and demanded the firing of executive director Peggy Johnson.
The film, “October 8,” was screened at The Loft Cinema on May 14 following several requests by members of the Jewish community. The film explores antisemitism on college campuses, online and in communities across the United States after the attacks against Israel by the terrorist group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.
The requests were partially a direct response to previous film screenings, Tony Zinman said. Zinman, a member of the Jewish community in Tucson, is a longtime supporter of The Loft, and was among the individuals encouraging The Loft to show “October 8.”
The cinema screened two films that he, among others, considered to have anti-Israeli perspective: “No Other Lands” and “The Encampments.”
“For both perspectives, The Loft scheduled a showing of ‘October 8,’” he said.
“The Encampments” tells the story of Pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, as students created the Gaza Solidarity Encampment, trying to pressure the institution from divesting in United States and Israeli weapons companies. The screening of “The Encampments” did draw a small protest, including of Zinman.
The Loft Cinema has always prided itself on promoting free speech and presenting diverse viewpoints, The Loft Board of Directors Ron Barber said, and “October 8” was in continuation with that standard.
“It’s important to us to show films that are controversial, but also carry a point of view that people need to be aware of. That was the process that we went through to show both films and also the previous decisions to show films that have to do with a pro-Palestinian point of view,” Barber said.
Zinman felt that The Loft Cinema had every right in showing these films — he wanted, however, a film that showed an alternative perspective on the conflict in Gaza and Israel.
“They didn’t include any information about the Hamas attack in Israel, but I believe in free speech, not censorship,” Zinman said.
Prior to The Loft’s screening of “October 8,” an online campaign began, with some in the Tucson community stating they would boycott the cinema should they show the film, further calling for members of The Loft to cancel their memberships. However, The Loft moved forward with the film, and the screening sold out.
During the showing, there were several protestors with signs opposing the screening of the film. The Loft, expecting such a response, arranged a security team for keeping peace, Barber said. Following protestors blocking traffic into the parking lot of The Loft from Speedway Boulevard, the police were called. One protestor was detained for having an open flame near utilities on the property. The Loft is not pressing charges related to the protest.
“It doesn't matter that you shout out a slogan or two, but absolutely no violence, no matter the situation, that is dangerous,” Barber said. “If they hadn't done the blocking of the driveway and refused to move when our security people asked them to, we would never have felt the need to call for help.”
However, that was not enough justification for many, who turned to The Loft’s Instagram account to voice their outrage. Several showed anger over The Loft’s decision to call the police on the protesters.
“The damage has been done, step down,” one user, Gat Moony (@gatmoony), posted. “Tucson is a liberation focused community, and the arts should reflect that.”
Many remain steadfast in their calls for the removal of Johnson.
“Remove Peggy from her position as head of your theater, she is a problem and has compromised your integrity and values. Until she is gone you haven’t actually apologized as an apology is a promise to never do the same thing again. As long as Peggy is leading you all are going down with her,” another user, Evangeline Perry (@_beeva_) said.
Several individuals have moved forward with their calls for boycotting The Loft, which has been part of the Tucson community for decades.
“After years of advertising with The Loft Cinema, I've had to make the difficult decision to pause my support. Last week, I was made aware that the pro-Israel documentary October 8 has been scheduled to screen at the theater. Given the nature of these times, I requested that it be pulled,” realtor Korey Schultz said on Instagram on May 14.
The Loft stands by its decision to show “October 8,” because it is its mission to show films that represent a diverse point of view — even if leadership may not personally agree with the perspectives they show.
“Each of us in leadership have our own views about the conflict in the Middle East. I think that what's happening in Palestine is atrocious and needs to stop, and I also am concerned about what happened on Oct. 7, where innocent people were killed, but the response from the Israelis has been really over the top, and certainly not something that I could personally support,” Barber said.
Furthermore, The Loft is not considering the removal of Johnson, Barber said on May 21.
