{"id":2031537,"date":"2023-09-14T09:03:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T13:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-rubio-urges-us-southern-command-to-screen-sound-of-freedom\/"},"modified":"2023-09-14T09:05:14","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T13:05:14","slug":"sen-rubio-urges-us-southern-command-to-screen-sound-of-freedom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-rubio-urges-us-southern-command-to-screen-sound-of-freedom\/","title":{"rendered":"Sen. Rubio urges US Southern Command to review &#8216;Sound of Freedom&#8217;."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsen-rubio-urges-us-southern-command-to-screen-sound-of-freedom%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2031537&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div data-post-content=\"true\" class=\"post_content\" id=\"post_content\">\n<p>The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) needs\u200d to reverse its decision to\u200c cancel two screenings of the film \u201cSound of Freedom\u201d at its \u2063headquarters in Florida without delay, according to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote><p>The Florida congressman, in\u2064 a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rubio.senate.gov\/rubio-urges-southcom-to-screen-of-sound-of-freedom-after-unjustified-cancellation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">letter<\/a> to SOUTHCOM Cmdr. Gen. Laura \u200bRichardson\u2064 on Sept. 13, said he was \u201calarmed\u201d over the cancellation.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote><p>The \u200cmovie, which has grossed more than $210 million worldwide since its July 4 release, was \u2062originally <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/entertainment\/us-southern-command-cancels-2-planned-screenings-of-child-trafficking-movie-sound-of-freedom-5487567\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scheduled<\/a> \u200d to be screened at\u2062 the \u200ccommand\u2019s base \u200din \u2064Doral,\u2064 Florida, on Aug. 28 and Oct. 19.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<div class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/entertainment\/us-southern-command-cancels-2-planned-screenings-of-child-trafficking-movie-sound-of-freedom-5487567\">US Southern Command Cancels 2 Planned\u200b Screenings\u2064 of Child Trafficking Movie \u2018Sound of Freedom\u2019<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/7\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/entertainment\/us-southern-command-cancels-2-planned-screenings-of-child-trafficking-movie-sound-of-freedom-5487567\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/entertainment\/sound-of-freedom-surpasses-latest-indiana-jones-film-at-us-box-office-5464424\">&#8216;Sound of Freedom&#8217; \u2063Surpasses Latest Indiana Jones Film at US Box \u200cOffice<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">8\/15\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/entertainment\/sound-of-freedom-surpasses-latest-indiana-jones-film-at-us-box-office-5464424\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cWhile reporting \u200dsuggests that SOUTHCOM unexpectedly canceled the movie due to concerns about \u2018copyright infringement,\u2019 I am aware that its \u200cproducers and the\u200d studio have communicated that this is not an impediment for the movie to be \u2063shown at SOUTHCOM to service members and their families,\u201d Mr. Rubio wrote.<\/p>\n<p>He added, \u201cAs such, since the concern which led to the cancellation has now been addressed, I urge you to rectify this situation and ensure \u2064that the screenings of\u200b the film be \u2062rescheduled \u2064without delay.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\">\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Jim Caviezel (L), \u2064actor in the new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-southern-command-cancels-2-planned-screenings-of-child-trafficking-movie-sound-of-freedom\/\" title=\"US Southern Command cancels 2 screenings of child trafficking film 'Sound of Freedom'.\">human trafficking action film<\/a> &#8220;Sound of Freedom,&#8221; and Tim Ballard (R), a former Department of Homeland Security special agent and founder of \u2064Operation Underground Railroad. (Madalina Vasiliu\/The Epoch Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote><p>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/bright\/film-review-sound-of-freedom-a-must-see-5354788\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sound of Freedom<\/a>\u201d is based on the true story of Tim Ballard, a Department \u2063of Homeland Security special agent who quit his job to save children from trafficking. In a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/entertainment\/jim-caviezel-calls-sound-of-freedom-his-most-important-film-since-the-passion-of-the-christ-5342274\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">interview with The Epoch Times<\/a>, actor Jim Caviezel, who plays Ballard, considered the movie his most important work since his 2004 performance as Jesus Christ in \u201cThe Passion of the Christ.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote><p>The movie\u200c has \u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/entertainment\/trump-hosts-actor-jim-caviezel-and-tim-ballard-at-sound-of-freedom-screening-5412561\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">drawn attacks<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-survival-guide-for-conservatives-during-the-biden-years\/\" title=\"A Survival Guide for Conservatives During the Biden Years\">mainstream news media<\/a>, painting it as a \u201cQAnon\u201d \u2062fantasy, \u2063even though production of the film was wrapped \u200dup in 2018, before the terminology had gained prominence. Angel\u200c Studios <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/entertainment\/sound-of-freedom-steals-hollywoods-thunder-5404845\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">crowdfunded $5 million<\/a> to distribute and market the film.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<h2>Letter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe topic of the film is directly in line \u200cwith SOUTHCOM\u2019s mission to combat trafficking\u2064 and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blackburn-cartels-traffickers-exploiting-unfinished-border-wall-construction\/\" title=\"Blackburn: Cartels, Traffickers Exploiting Unfinished Border Wall Construction\">transnational criminal organizations<\/a> in\u200b the command\u2019s area\u200b of responsibility,\u201d Mr. Rubio wrote.\u2062 \u201cGiven SOUTHCOM\u2019s robust leadership on combatting \u2064trafficking in persons, and the relevance of the \u2018Sound of Freedom\u2019 movie to SOUTHCOM\u2019s mission, I was\u200b alarmed to learn of the decision to cancel \u2063the film\u2019s screenings at SOUTHCOM.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<p>The Florida \u2063congressman added that the Pentagon has a long history of working with \u2062movie studios to \u200bhost \u2063viewings of movies on\u200c U.S. military installations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote><p>\u201cAs an \u2063example, the Army and Air\u200d Force Exchange Service offered advanced screenings of \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/bright\/film-review-elvis-presley-presented-as-parkers-puppet-in-an-american-carnival-sideshow-act-4556967\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Elvis<\/a>\u2019 at more than\u2062 20 U.S. Air Force\u200c and Army bases last year,\u201d he wrote.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<p>Mr. Rubio said there shouldn\u2019t be \u2064any concerns about copyright infringement,\u200d since the producers and distributors of \u2063the movie \u201chave consented to screening the movie at SOUTHCOM.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote><p>Previously, SOUTHCOM <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/entertainment\/us-southern-command-cancels-2-planned-screenings-of-child-trafficking-movie-sound-of-freedom-5487567\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">told The Epoch Times<\/a> in a statement that the screenings were \u200ccanceled following\u2063 a review of \u201capplicable laws and\u2062 regulations governing the use of materials subject \u2064to copyright and intellectual property laws for official\u2064 or recreational purposes.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<p>\u201cI hope you agree that what matters is whether the movie is worth showing to the \u200dtroops\u200b and potentially meeting the filmmakers, not \u2064whether the troops can buy a movie ticket \u2063or stream the film on their \u2064own,\u201d Mr. Rubio added. \u201cAs\u200d such, I request immediate confirmation that\u2062 \u2018Sound of Freedom\u2019 will be shown \u200bat SOUTHCOM as originally planned.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<h2>Support<\/h2>\n<blockquote><p>Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) also voiced\u2063 his support\u2063 for the movie. In a\u200d post \u200con X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday, Mr. \u2063Scott shared Mr. Rubio\u2019s letter and said he agreed with his colleague, saying, \u201cThere&#8217;s absolutely no reason [Sound of Freedom] shouldn&#8217;t be shown.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<p>\u201c[SOUTHCOM] should reschedule this \u2063immediately,\u201d Mr. Scott\u2062 added.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\">\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Sen.\u2062 Rick Scott (R-Fla.) speaks during a press\u2062 conference in the U.S. Capitol in Washington on July \u200b11, 2023. (Madalina\u2063 Vasiliu\/The Epoch Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote><p>Former President Donald Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/entertainment\/trump-hosts-actor-jim-caviezel-and-tim-ballard-at-sound-of-freedom-screening-5412561\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">heaped praise<\/a> on \u2063the movie after hosting a \u200dscreening of the film at his golf course in Bedminster, New\u2064 Jersey, in\u2063 July. In attendance at the event \u200cwas Mr. Caviezel, producer Eduardo Ver\u00e1stegui, and Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote><p>Also in July, House Speaker \u2064Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) \u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/speaker-mccarthy-to-host-bipartisan-sound-of-freedom-screening-at-capitol-5414691\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">held<\/a> a screening of \u200bthe film \u2062on Capital Hill for \u2064members of Congress.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<p>Days after the screening, Mr. McCarthy said during\u2064 a briefing \u2064that\u2062 he believed \u201cevery single person should see this movie.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u200c were moments\u2064 I was emotionally\u2064 upset,&#8221; Mr. McCarthy said. &#8220;But when you watch and\u2064 get to the\u2064 end, and you think today as a policy \u2063maker, I would love to sit \u200ddown and watch this with the\u200d president. What is transpiring to these young children? Human trafficking\u2063 that is going on, let&#8217;s not put politics around it. Let&#8217;s put these children first.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote><p>Citing\u200d \u201cSound of Freedom,\u201d Senate Republicans, including\u2064 Mr. Rubio \u200band Mr.\u200c Scott, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ronjohnson.senate.gov\/2023\/7\/sen-johnson-leads-letter-urging-democrat-committee-chairmen-to-investigate-and-hold-hearings-on-human-trafficking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sent a letter<\/a> \u2064in July to Democratic chairmen of the Senate Homeland Security, Judiciary, and Foreign \u200dAffairs committees, calling for additional hearings on human trafficking.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<p>In\u2062 their letter, the GOP senators wrote\u2063 the\u2062 movie \u201chas played \u2063an \u200dimportant role in creating public awareness \u200cof this modern-day form of slavery.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote><p>They added, \u201cGiven your committees\u2019 roles in\u2064 overseeing DHS [Department of Homeland Security], we urge you to investigate and hold\u200c hearings into DHS\u2019s efforts to<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) urges U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) to promptly reconsider canceling two showings of &#8220;Sound of Freedom&#8221; at its Florida headquarters. In a letter to SOUTHCOM Cmdr. Gen. Laura Richardson, Rubio expresses concern and alarm over the decision. The film holds significance and should be screened without delay.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":252,"featured_media":2031538,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2031537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2031537","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/252"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2031537"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2031537\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2031538"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2031537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2031537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2031537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}