Michael Moore Calls for More Activism After Charleston: We Still Don't Have a 'Free America'

Filmmaker Michael Moore perceives a shift toward racial justice taking place in America — and calls on citizens to take action in the name of peace and democracy.

In a Facebook post Monday, Moore addressed a nation grieving over black churches set on fire and racially motivated killings in Charleston. Decrying racist oppression, Moore writes he’s encouraged by a “change in the air” — a political movement borne of hope rather than despair — and its growing influence on national politics.

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Moore continues his Facebook essay by pointing out that the country’s population is skewing younger and more racially diverse. The liberal documentarian offers an optimistic vision of a “New America,” one less afflicted by the problems of extreme income inequality, mass incarceration, and man-made climate change.

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Moore rightly cautions that, while activist influence in the public policy arena feels almost palpable right now, there is work to be done in order to create lasting change. He calls on his followers to engage in positive action between now and the Fourth of July, when America celebrates its independence from British colonial rule.

“What else can we make happen before America's 239th birthday this coming Saturday?” Moore asks.

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