Attend the New York Premiere of the film USA vs Al-Arian

Sami Al-Arian -- a passionate, outspoken pro-Palestinian activist and university professor -- was charged in 2003 with funding and supporting a Palestinian terrorist group and held in prison awaiting a trial for two-and-a-half years. USA vs Al-Arian is an intimate family portrait that documents the strain brought on by Al-Arian's trial, a battle waged both in court and in the media. A tight-knit family unravels before our eyes as trial preparations, strategy and spin consume their lives. This is a nightmare come to life, as a man is prosecuted for his beliefs rather than his actions. Director Line Halvorsen presents democracy in a new light in a post-9/11 culture of fear, when "security measures" trump free speech and punishment is meted out in the name of protection.