"Bully " Rating Challenged Again during Screening in NYC

The rating of the documentary "Bully" was challenged again Tuesday during a special screening of the movie attended by  Martha Stewart, among others.

This time, two lawyers spoke out in front of a high-profile audience gathering at the in New York City which included Meryl Streep and Billie Jean King.

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"Young people can be tough on one another but young people are also extraordinarily compassionate. And when they see the damage that is done to their brothers and sisters, they will speak out. They will decide to be courageous and say, 'Don't do that,' or come to the defense of someone who's being picked on," former Solicitor General Ted Olson said.

"That's why it's important that everyone in America see 'Bully' to talk about it, but in particular, the young people," he said.

The film has gained in prominence as students and celebrities have protested an R rating given to the film by The Motion Picture Association of America.

One online petition against the rating, started by Michigan high school student Katy Butler, now has almost half a million signatures.

Meryl Streep, Ellen DeGeneres and Johnny Depp are among the celebrities that electronically signed the petition.

"How ridiculous and unfair and damaging it is to have a film of this power and importance that is being censored by a rating system that has got simply no rational basis," lawyer David Boies said yesterday at the screening.

"You can kill kids, you can maim them, you can torture them and still get a PG13 rating, but if they say a couple of bad words you blame them," he added.

"Bully" (from director Lee Hirsch) debuts on March 30.