Why Should I Boycott Scream 7?
In November 2023, Mexican actor Melissa Barrera was fired from the Scream franchise by Spyglass Media Group for speaking out against Israel’s actions in Gaza Her dismissal is an act of blacklisting that reflects Hollywood’s broader efforts to silence voices advocating for Palestinian human rights especially those of women of color We boycott to send a clear message: supporting genocide is bad for business
What is the Boycott Asking For?
We are asking audiences not to pay to see Scream 7 in theaters or watch it on streaming services, and to refrain from contributing to online discourse about the film unless discussing or supporting the boycott
We ask journalists: If you are assigned to cover the film, please explain why advocates for Palestinian human rights have launched a boycott of the film.
Do Boycotts Actually Work?
Yes Not only are they effective, but they are one of the only effective tools we have for dissent
After the Palestinian-led call for Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) called for a boycott of Disney’s “Snow White” over the casting of Gal Gadot, who supported Israel’s military actions in Gaza, the film became Disney's lowest-performing live-action remake in almost a decade and is the lowest-rated film in IMDb history
BDS calls have also resulted in brands like Puma ending their relationship with the Israel Football Association and McDonald's buying back all of its 225 restaurants in Israel from the local franchisee, Alonyal Limited, in an attempt to remove itself from the BDS list
Cultural boycotts were also an important part of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and Namibia In fact, the movement to boycott South Africa started in 1960, but apartheid did not end until 1990 No single boycott will end Israeli apartheid; all of our actions must happen in tandem until the dam breaks, and you can be a part of this significant work by boycotting Scream 7.
What Does a PACBI-Endorsed Boycott Mean?
PACBI is the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel and is a core founding member of the larger Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement It is tasked with overseeing the academic and cultural boycott aspects of BDS PACBI endorsing the Scream 7 boycott means the film’s violations are within their guidelines, and they have reviewed, approved, and assisted in our campaign
Celebrities Shouldn’t Speak About Politics If They Don’t Want to Lose Jobs…
Perhaps, but should that be the case when your politics are “stop killing children”? When someone is standing up for human rights?
Palestine Is Not My Problem; Why Should I Care?
If you don’t care about your tax dollars funding a genocide, then consider the attack on American freedom of speech for the sake of a foreign country. Americans now face more consequences for speaking out against Israel’s military than they ever did for critiquing the American military during the Iraq or Afghanistan invasions
Or care about how supporters of Israel are working around the clock to criminalize protests all across America, with face mask bans in New York and “bubble laws” in Los Angeles that would make it illegal to protest in front of certain establishments
Or maybe how any semblance of international law and wartime protections most of which were painstakingly put in place after the horrors of World War II have gone out the window because Israel violated them all and then normalized it
And one should care that your politicians do not hold America’s best interests at heart, but instead prioritize their donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which just spent millions to unseat two Black congress members and succeeded
Did This Only Happen to Melissa?
No, the U.S. has not seen this level of widespread retaliation and repression over criticizing Israel since McCarthyism in the 1950s.
Americans of all social levels have been falsely accused of anti-Semitism, destroying reputations and careers with baseless accusations and investigations. Influence and unsubstantiated claims have been used to suppress dissent and target individuals, leading to a climate of suspicion and fear
In Hollywood alone, employers are monitoring social media pages, canceling shows, blacklisting and firing artists, and bullying pro-Palestinian voices in workplaces, among other actions.
Why Do We Need Genocide Out of Our Movies?
The U S government has always used movies to control public opinion and spread propaganda Before Hollywood can use their equipment in their films, the Department of Defense has to review and approve their scripts Through this kind of collaboration, they tell us who our enemies should be, who our allies should be, and condition us to feel fear when we see something they don’t like such as vilifying Black and Brown men on screen for years
Hollywood uses films and television to do the same with Israel. They often portray Muslims or Arabs as terrorists while depicting Israelis and the Mossad as victims or heroes. This dehumanization and normalization over time contribute to a mindset that allows the entire world to see images from the most well-documented genocide in history delivered to their phones daily and still look away
Why Is Hollywood Targeting Women of Color?
Because they think they are easy targets
How
Else Can I Support the Boycott?
Tell your friends! Download our flyers from our toolkit and share them on your social media Film and share videos about what you learned Get your friends or school involved and pass out flyers at appropriate events Put together a wheat-pasting group if your local laws permit it See our toolkit for more!