SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES–Former U.S. Marine Richard “Mac” McKinney was making plans to set off a homemade bomb in his hometown’s mosque, the Islamic Center of Muncie, Indiana. He was hoping to kill or injure around 200 innocent people. But upon visiting the mosque unarmed to get a sense of who he was about to attack, he was met with nothing but kindness from the community. Now Mac, who has since converted to the Islamic faith, wants to share his story to prevent hate and spread understanding.
Mac’s story is the subject of “Stranger at the Gate,” a 2023 Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Short Film. The film, directed by Joshua Seftel and produced by Malala Yousafzai and The New Yorker, was screened for CUNY SPS students by the School’s Committee on Institutional Equity and Diversity (CIED) on Oct. 23 via Zoom. Following the screening, the CIED held a discussion with Mac himself, as well as Bibi Bahrami, a close friend of his who is part of the Muslim community in Muncie.
