Jim Harbaugh stood up defiantly against a group of Michigan students by expressing his support for the movie “American Sniper.”
The acclaimed Clint Eastwood film was scheduled to be shown on Friday as part of the school’s Center for Campus Involvement “UMix Late Night.” The screening was cancelled after about 300 students protested it because they feel the movie perpetuates “negative and misleading stereotypes” about Muslims.
In response, Harbaugh tweeted the following Wednesday night:
Michigan Football will watch "American Sniper"! Proud of Chris Kyle & Proud to be an American & if that offends anybody then so be it!
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) April 9, 2015
Harbaugh wasn’t alone in his pride and desire to see the movie. The school later said it was a mistake to cancel the showing.
“The initial decision to cancel the movie was not consistent with the high value the University of Michigan places on freedom of expression and our respect for the right of students to make their own choices in such matters,” school spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said via MLive.com.
The showing will go on as initially scheduled, though a second movie, Paddington, will also be available as an alternative.
