Let the People Decide

Gavin Guerra
United States, 2019, 108 min.

In English.
Includes violence and adult language.

AIFF Award Winner:
Special Jury Award for Historical Filmmaking

"Stealing elections" and "illegal voting" can sound like words meant to whip southern white voters into a frenzy. To the mid-twentieth century activists who lived the brutal history of voter intimidation and literacy tests, the current voter ID debate recalls a familiar tune. Now, the legal battle over voting rights in North Carolina puts a new generation of activists in all-too-familiar territory–fighting laws specifically enacted to intimidate and disenfranchise African Americans at the polls.

Director's Statement

In discussions of present day issues that have been around for generations, historical context is essential. Despite living in what we call "The Information Age", dis-information and misinformation are widespread. The purpose of this film is to give the conversation about voting rights that much needed context. This film shows that the struggle over who gets to vote did not erupt from a vacuum, but is woven deep into our national fabric.

Category: Documentary, Feature Doc, Award Winner, Best of Fest.
Themes: Politics, Historical, Social Justice.