Citizen George
Democracy and Its Discontents
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1h 39m
Directed by Glenn Holsten • Documentary • 2024 • 99 minutes
Citizen George presents the life and work of Philadelphia-based Quaker activist George Lakey, a non-violent revolutionary who has worked his entire life for justice and peace, guided by his ideal of societal transformation.
Called "a civil rights legend" by The Guardian, George was born into a working-class family in rural Pennsylvania, worked in factories, and conducted sociological research at the University of Pennsylvania while learning to build movements for justice and peace. When he was nine years old, George preached about civil rights and equality. He was first arrested in the civil rights movement, risked his life in Vietnam in the struggle against that war, came out publicly as bisexual, and, more recently, as a great-grandfather of a large interracial family, who is committed to civil disobedience for climate justice.
The thread that ties this remarkable life story together is a passion for change. Today, George’s message of a nonviolent revolution is more urgent than ever. His story will inform those struggling to make sense of the current troubling political climate, illuminate a path forward, and inspire those willing to work for change to face today’s moment. Citizen George paints a portrait of a deeply human, determined individual who is unstoppable and unflappable in his quest for a fair and just world.
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