Screening of the movie “DENIAL” at Middlebury’s Marquis Theatre– Wednesday, May 3, 2017. For the benefit of the Open Door Clinic. Two showings – 4 pm and 7 pm. Each showing will be followed by a discussion moderated by Professor Rebecca Ayako Bennette, Director of Jewish Studies and Associate Professor of History (German), Middlebury College.
DENIAL is presented by Huddlebury, one of Middlebury's Huddles that meets biweekly to discuss the daily impact of national policies and everyone's role in advocating for social and economic justice. DENIAL is a film about Deborah Lipstadt, a Holocaust historian, and her dramatic legal battle against Holocaust denier David Irving, who sued her for libel. DENIAL raises questions of free speech and fake news. Is the doctrine of “Equal Time” appropriate for all viewpoints? Where do we draw the line? Who gets to draw the line? What are the consequences?
David Irving, a Holocaust denier, feels personally attacked for his opinions and his supporters accuse Lipstadt of being against freedom of speech. She answers these attacks in court. At a press conference she says, “The freedom of speech means you can say whatever you want. But what you can’t do is lie and expect not be accountable for it.. . . Not all opinions are equal.” Suggested donation of $10 toward the Open Door Clinic