American Agitators

TICKETS Sept 16-20 Inspired by Fred Ross Sr, one of the most influential grassroots organizers of the 20th century, AMERICAN AGITATORS is a documentary about the importance of patience and deep listening in organizing. Beginning in the 1930s, Ross organized Dust Bowl refugees and during WWII he helped Japanese Americans find jobs and housing after release from the internment camps. After the War, in the face of KKK activity, he organized civil unity leagues in California by mentoring Mexican Americans and African Americans to build their voting power to challenge segregation in schools, which led to a successful integration of local school boards across California’s Citrus Belt. He worked from the understanding that while protests can draw attention to create sustainable change, persistence and organization are required to build power and give people a voice in the decisions that shape their living and working conditions. American Agitators, tells a story of how today, collective action can combat racism, bigotry, and injustice and help move our nation towards a true democracy. (Raymond Telles, 2024, USA, 1:34, NR)