Filmmaker Ziad Hamzeh's critically acclaimed and award winning documentary "The Letter" receives praise and accolades for its contribution in the fight against racism and intolerance by the prestigious Southern Poverty Law Center and Tolerance.org.

July 7, 2004 -- Ziad Hamzeh's critically acclaimed and award winning feature-length documentary "The Letter" continues to generate momentum and acclaim in news articles written by The Southern Poverty Law Center and Tolerance.org.

"The Letter", written and directed by Ziad Hamzeh, chronicles the turmoil predominately white Lewiston, Maine faces when 1,100 former Somali refugees relocate there en-masse in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy – referred to as the “Somali invasion” by the international news media.

"The Letter": A firestorm of controversy erupts when Lewiston mayor Larry Raymond sends an open letter to the newly arrived Somali community asking them to tell friends and family not to move into the city. The conflict escalates into competing “hate” and “peace” rallies held simultaneously and separated by only a few miles. The “hate” rally staged by Reverend Matt Hale’s World Church of the Creator, a white separatist group, and a “peace” rally organized by the Many & One Coalition, a local community group, necessitates the largest police action in Maine’s history to ensure the safety of the city’s residents.

The Southern Poverty Law Center is internationally known for its tolerance education programs, its legal victories against white supremacists, and its tracking of hate groups.

Read the Southern Poverty Law Center news article on Ziad Hamzeh and "The Letter": http://www.splcenter.org/news/item.jsp?aid=72

Tolerance.org is known worldwide for fighting against racism and intolerance. It's the online destination for those wanting to dismantle bigotry and promote diversity in their communities.

Read the Tolerance.org news article on Ziad Hamzeh and "The Letter": http://tolerance.org/news/article_tol.jsp?id=1020

"The Letter" premiered at The 2003 AFI Film Festival, won Best Documentary at The 2004 Boston International Film Festival, was chosen as the Opening Night film at The 2004 Amnesty International Film Festival, was nominated as Best Documentary at The 2004 Pan-African Film Festival, was featured on NPR's "Here and Now", and is an official selection of The 2004 Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival, The 2004 Maine International Film Festival, and The 2004 Newport Beach Film Festival.