"A Town Called Victoria" Explores Islamophobia

A south Texas town is thrown into the national spotlight when a local mosque is burned down in an apparent hate crime. Three-part documentary premieres Monday.

Watch Live Monday, Nov. 13 at 9 pm

From Reel South and Independent Lens comes A Town Called Victoria. When the local mosque is burned to the ground in an apparent hate crime, the town of Victoria must overcome its age-old political, racial, and economic divides to find a collective way forward.

From award-winning filmmaker Li Lu, “A Town Called Victoria” follows the stories of Ajrami, Rachid, and Hashmi as they reckon with the incident and seek to restore their sacred space, while reflecting on the journeys they took to find acceptance as Muslim Americans in a conservative Christian small town. The day after the fire, as the leaders survey the site of the destroyed mosque, over 500 Victorians gather to stage a peace rally and express their support. Within a week, a GoFundMe campaign created by Rachid to rebuild the mosque goes viral and raises more than $1 million , and the story of Victoria makes headlines around the world as a parable of togetherness in dark times.

Watch live next Monday, November 13 at 9 p.m. and Tuesday, November 14 at 9 p.m. or binge the collection now with APT Passport.

APT Passport

A south Texas town is thrown into the national spotlight when a local mosque is burned down in an apparent hate crime. After the media moves on, the community is left to reflect on its complex history with racism.
With the arson trial near, the suspect’s family argues his innocence. Meanwhile, facets of Victoria reveal the ingredients that might have turned him to hate and support for the town’s Muslim community begins to wane.
The prosecution presents shocking evidence. As the trial concludes, the engaged citizens of Victoria seek a way to build a more inclusive community.

Trailer | A Town Called Victoria

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