The Revolutionist | Eugene V. Debs

Alternately loved and reviled, Eugene Victor Debs was a passionate labor leader, a progressive political figure, and a formidable speaker in a time of great change in the United States. WFYI’s documentary, The Revolutionist: Eugene V. Debs, tells the story of this Hoosier’s life. Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1855, Eugene Debs emerged as a divisive figure when he led the nationwide Pullman Strike in 1894. Seeking an alternative way for workers to gain power, he helped establish the Socialist Party in the United States and ran as its candidate for president five times. His campaign across the country drew massive crowds, and his oratory tested the limits of the First Amendment. When he spoke out against America’s involvement in World War I, the Supreme Court upheld a guilty verdict that sentenced him to ten years in prison for violating the Espionage Act. From his cell, he ran for president for the final time, garnering nearly a million votes…and sparking a national conversation about the right to free speech. And leaders still look to Eugene Debs for inspiration. Senator Bernie Sanders said, "What Eugene Debs was about was changing public consciousness. That's what we have to do today." The Revolutionist: Eugene V. Debs is narrated by actor Danny Glover.
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[@aviyendah]

Criminally understated video, more people should know about Gene Debs

[@steffenp7525]

Thank you so much for sharing this! Debs is a hero of the working class, not just in the US but globally. His words echo and resonate as loudly today as they did 120 years ago. "Your Honor, years ago I recognized my kinship with all living beings, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on earth. I said then, and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free." ✊️ all the power to all the people

[@therealtoni]

Love your history presentations. Well done!!