“When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just — say something!” John Lewis instructs a cheering crowd in Dawn Porter’s upcoming documentary. “Do something! Get in trouble, good trouble, necessary trouble!” These aren’t empty words or stump speech bullshit — it’s the congressman and activist’s experience. Throughout his life, he has called out injustice and inequality and fought against it. He’s gotten into plenty of “good trouble.”
Porter catches up with Lewis, now 80 years old, and revisits his past as a civil rights leader in “John Lewis: Good Trouble.” A trailer for the doc just dropped.
An integral part of the Civil Rights Movement, a participant in the March 7, 1965, Selma march, and a 17-term-and-counting House representative, Lewis has been an invaluable influence on progressive politics and activism for decades. He’s also an inspiration for emerging leaders.
“Congressman Lewis gave us the blueprint to organize, and to legislate” Representative Ayanna Pressley says in the spot. “If John Lewis as a 19, 20-year-old wasn’t doing what he did, I would not be here,” adds Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Likewise, veteran leaders are also indebted to Lewis and his work. “He’s the most courageous person I ever met,” House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn reveals. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi emphasizes, “He challenges the conscience of the Congress.”
Utilizing interviews and archival footage, Porter traces Lewis’ history of social and legislative progress, including his involvement with civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform, and immigration reform.
“There are forces in America today [that] wanna take us back,” Lewis says in the trailer, “but we’re not going back. We’re going forward!”
“Bobby Kennedy For President,” “Trapped,” and “Gideon’s Army” are among Porter’s previous credits. Lewis appeared as an interviewee in the former. Next, Porter’s making a doc about former Chief Official White House Photographer Pete Souza.
“John Lewis: Good Trouble” hits theaters and VOD July 3.
