Spike Lee Defends His New Movie 'Chiraq'

Spike Lee defended the title of his upcoming film, 'Chiraq' outside a Chicago church last Thursday.

The controversial director has found himself in hot water for the title which is a common endonym residents of Chicago's south side use to describe their neighborhood which has one of the highest murder rates in the country. (The word is a contraction of Chicago and Iraq).

Members of the city council have complained about the movie title. Alderman William Burns and Mayor Rahn Emmanuel have also voiced their displeasure and have said that the city should have some input into the title as Lee has requested a $3 million tax credit.

The 58-year-old director held a press conference outside St. Sabina church on Thursday morning to defend the project from critics "who don't know what the hell they're talking about," Lee told reporters according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

"So we felt it was appropriate that we say what the narrative is - the film makers, the people doing this, not the people who are judging from afar," he continued.

St. Sabina's pastor Father Michael Pfleger praised Lee as one of America's best directors and for hiring local African-Americans to work on the film.

Also attending the conference were mothers who'd lost family members to gang violence. One woman carried an urn containing her daughter's ashes.

John Cusack who is slated to star in the film also spoke and called the controversy "manufactured" and the movie was a "film of conscience."

"Art must be courageous, and anybody who wants a more peaceful America will understand where the heart of this film is," Cusack said. "I love my city of Chicago - all of Chicago - and I would never do anything to hurt it."

Lee also reminded people that when "Do The Right Thing" was first released in 1989, critics warned that the film would cause riots.

Lee reminded his audience that one of his earliest movies, "Do The Right Thing," also generated criticism before its 1989 release and that these current naysayers were just as misguided.

"They are going to look stupid and be on the wrong side of history," Lee said.

He encouraged people to reserve judgement before seeing the film.

"I love Chicago," he said. "Wait 'til the movie comes out."

'Chiraq' is reportedly set to star Kanye West, Jennifer Hudson, Jeremy Piven, Samuel L. Jackson and Common.

Chiraq is real …. I see that sh!t on boxden everyday …...

SOURCE