Franklin Graham Blasts University of Maryland Students for Opposing 'American Sniper' Screening

Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, recently spoke out against students at a Maryland university who fought to have the film "American Sniper "canceled from an on-campus screening, arguing that it promoted stereotypes against Muslims.

Students with the Muslim Students Association at the University of Maryland successfully petitioned the university to recently postpone a screening of the film "American Sniper," which follows the life of U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle during the Iraq War.

The student group argued in a Change.org petition that the movie promotes Islamophobia and portrays Muslim stereotypes.

 "This movie dehumanizes Muslim individuals, promotes the idea of senseless mass murder, and portrays negative and inaccurate stereotypes," the petition argues.

After the university decided to postpone the screening of the film, Graham took to Facebook to speak out against the college and the students who sought to have the film canceled.

"Chris Kyle was an American hero. It's brave soldiers like these that make all of the freedoms we enjoy possible," Graham wrote on Facebook.

"Shame on the University of Maryland for listening to these voices! If these Muslim students can't support the military members who do their job to protect us, let them leave America and go to a Muslim country. God bless America and our heroes!" Graham added.

Recently, the University of Michigan considered canceling its screening of "American Sniper" after students complained, but then reversed course and agreed to show a second film so those not wishing to view "American Sniper" would still have an option.