GREENFIELD — Standing on his own outside the Garden Cinemas Tuesday night, Bram Moreinis had one message he wanted to impart on passersby and those who walked into the Main Street theater that evening for a screening of “2,000 Mules.”
“Propaganda works,” said Moreinis, carrying a sign with those two words taped across it. “That’s why I’m standing here holding this sign.”
Leading up to the 9 p.m. screening of the film, which alleges widespread voter fraud carried out by left wing operatives who stuffed dropboxes with absentee ballots during the 2020 presidential election, Moreinis received words of encouragement from passersby and initiated dialogue with patrons before they entered the theater to see the movie.
In his conversations with like-minded individuals, Moreinis said theater co-owner Isaac Mass is “smart as a whip and a good politician,” but described his decision to screen the film as “reckless.”
“This is an independent theater and it’s the only movie theater in Franklin County, and … I’m afraid that come election day here, some of the people who watch this movie — which is basically saying that you can’t trust an election — are going to do what a lot of Republican operatives are trying to get people to do, which is show up and … intimidate voters,” he said. “That doesn’t feel like Greenfield, but then again, this movie doesn’t feel like Greenfield, either.”
Moreinis explained that filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza uses cellphone data as evidence that individuals were making repeated trips to ballot boxes.
“Cellphone records are not that fine tuned,” he said. “All it means is someone was circling Main Street. Who would have a reason to circle Main Street? A pizza delivery man. … This has been debunked all over.”
Mass said he spoke with Moreinis earlier in the week, and when Moreinis said he planned to protest outside the theater, Mass welcomed him to do so.
“Movies make people passionate,” Mass said. “We periodically get people who will protest a film. … We have no problem with anyone coming out as long as they’re polite and not disturbing our customers.”
He added that the theater aims to show a “diverse set of films … irrespective of the political spectrum that they’re on.” “2,000 Mules,” he said, had a limited run of six days.
Among the patrons planning to view “2,000 Mules” Tuesday night were Gary Hallowell and his brother Mark, both from Greenfield.
“This debunking — it always seems to be the opposite,” said Gary Hallowell, speaking to Moreinis’ objection to the credibility of the movie. “The big lie that it was the most secure election seems to be falling apart.”
Mark Hallowell added that politicians on both sides of the aisle engage in the same political games.
“If it’s crooked, have our votes ever counted?” he asked, before the two of them walked into the theater with their tickets.
One employee commended Moreinis for protesting her employer’s decision to screen the movie, especially given the current political climate.
“I worked at our voting office,” said Mercedes Bailey of Erving, 19. “I know how this system works and … there’s no room for voter fraud.”
Moreinis emphasized that his protest Tuesday was not just about the movie itself, but Mass’ decision to screen it.
“We sure can bring some pressure onto Isaac not to do this again,” he said.
Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne