-----Original Message-----
From: Ekta
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2002 12:48 AM
To: LKendall@amnh.org; Charnov@amnh.org
Subject: Petition in Support of Film Screenings by Anand Patwardhan


Ms. Elaine Charnov
Director, Public Programs and Artistic Director,
Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival

Ms. Laurel Kendall
Curator of Hinduism Exhibit
Anthropology Department

American Museum of Natural History
79th St. at Central Park West
New York, NY 10024

Dear Ms. Charnov & Ms. Kendall,

I am writing on behalf of EKTA, a South Asian nonprofit organization based
in the San Francisco Bay area. We would like to commend your decision to
continue the screening of Anand Patwardhan's films "We are Not Your Monkeys"
& "In the Name of God" despite the efforts by some individuals and
organizations to protest the screening. We believe that these films serve a
valuable function in fostering public debate and scrutiny regarding communal
politics and the rise of Hindu fundamentalism in India; and therefore
deserved to be screened. Attached is a petition signed by 461 individuals
who share those sentiments as well and believe that the films of Anand
Patwardhan should remain accessible to the public. We hope that you continue
doing so in the future.

Sincerely,
Raj Barot

PS- We plan on posting the petition on our website. If you would like to
write a response, we would be interested in posting that as well.

-----------------------------------------
E K T A
-----------------------------------------
email: contactus@ektaonline.org
website: http://www.ektaonline.org

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Petition: PROTECT FREE SPEECH: SUPPORT FILM SCREENINGS BY ANAND PATWARDHAN
Date: 01/30/2002
Location: http://www.thePetitionSite.com/takeaction/783684768

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