From Selma to Solidarity: Films That Fuel the Fight for Justice
We Refuse to Give Up—Let These Stories of Courage Remind You Why
People Power United champions progress and power to the people. To support our work, please consider becoming a monthly subscriber to our newsletter for $5 a month or $60 for the year.
Hey there,
I know this is a heavy time for our country—and probably for your inbox too. Earlier this month I was on a call with an expert on authoritarianism who confirmed what many of us have feared: America is rapidly sliding into what can now be called an electoral authoritarian regime.
But here’s what I want you to know: we’re not going anywhere.
No matter what happens with this brutal budget fight, People Power United will keep showing up, speaking out, and building the kind of grassroots power that puts people over profit, democracy over dictatorship, and freedom over fascism. And we will not fundraise or bombard you with emails asking for donations!
And because we all need fuel for the fight, I wanted to share this with you: a list of powerful, inspiring films that will reignite your belief in what’s possible—even in the darkest of times. These stories prove that when the people are determined, nothing can stop us.
We Refuse to Give Up—Let These Stories of Courage Remind You Why
Civil Rights & Social Justice
1. Selma (2014) Chronicles Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s campaign to secure voting rights through the historic march from Selma to Montgomery. A powerful portrayal of peaceful resistance and determination. Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu
2. 13th (2016) Ava DuVernay's documentary examining the intersection of race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States, connecting slavery to modern prison systems. Available on: Netflix
3. Do the Right Thing (1989) Spike Lee's provocative film exploring racial tensions in Brooklyn on the hottest day of the year, challenging viewers to examine prejudice and community responsibility. Available on: HBO Max, Amazon Prime
4. The Hate U Give (2018) Based on Angie Thomas's novel, follows a teenager navigating between her poor neighborhood and prep school after witnessing police brutality. Available on: Hulu, Amazon Prime
5. Malcolm X (1992) Spike Lee's biographical epic chronicling the transformation of Malcolm Little into the influential civil rights leader Malcolm X. Available on: Amazon Prime, Apple TV
Environmental Activism
6. An Inconvenient Truth (2006) Al Gore's groundbreaking documentary on climate change that brought environmental issues to mainstream attention through compelling data and personal narrative. Available on: Paramount+, Amazon Prime
7. The Cove (2009) Oscar-winning documentary exposing the annual dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan, combining undercover activism with environmental advocacy. Available on: Amazon Prime, Apple TV
8. Dark Waters (2019) Based on true events, follows lawyer Robert Bilott's battle against DuPont chemical company over water contamination affecting thousands of people. Available on: Hulu, Amazon Prime
Workers' Rights & Economic Justice
9. Norma Rae (1979) Sally Field's Oscar-winning performance as a factory worker who becomes involved in labor union activities in the American South. Available on: Amazon Prime, Apple TV
10. Sorry to Bother You (2018) Surreal comedy-drama critiquing capitalism and worker exploitation through the story of a telemarketer who discovers a magical key to success. Available on: Hulu, Amazon Prime
11. The Grapes of Wrath (1940) John Ford's adaptation of Steinbeck's novel about a family's journey during the Great Depression, highlighting economic inequality and human dignity. Available on: Disney+, Amazon Prime
Human Rights & Freedom
12. Milk (2008) Sean Penn's portrayal of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California, and his fight for LGBTQ+ rights in 1970s San Francisco. Available on: Amazon Prime, Apple TV
13. Hotel Rwanda (2004) Don Cheadle stars as hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina, who saved over 1,000 refugees during the Rwandan genocide, showcasing individual courage against overwhelming odds. Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime
14. Schindler's List (1993) Steven Spielberg's masterpiece about Oskar Schindler, who saved over 1,000 Jews during the Holocaust, demonstrating the power of moral courage. Available on: Peacock, Amazon Prime
15. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Though primarily a drama, this film inspires through its themes of hope, friendship, and the human spirit's ability to endure and overcome injustice. Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime
Women's Rights & Gender Equality
16. On the Basis of Sex (2018) Felicity Jones portrays young Ruth Bader Ginsburg fighting her first gender discrimination case, laying groundwork for women's legal equality. Available on: Hulu, Amazon Prime
17. Hidden Figures (2016) Celebrates the untold story of African American women mathematicians who played crucial roles in NASA's early space missions during the Space Race. Available on: Disney+, Hulu
18. North Country (2005) Charlize Theron stars in this drama about the first major sexual harassment case in the United States, based on true events at a Minnesota iron mine. Available on: Amazon Prime, Apple TV
Erin Brockovich (2000) Julia Roberts stars in the story of Erin Brockovich who initiated a legal case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company over its culpability for the Hinkley groundwater contamination incident.
War & Peace
20. Gandhi (1982) Ben Kingsley's Oscar-winning portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi's life and philosophy of non-violent resistance in India's struggle for independence. Available on: Amazon Prime, Apple TV
21. Paths of Glory (1957) Stanley Kubrick's anti-war masterpiece starring Kirk Douglas as a French colonel defending soldiers accused of cowardice during World War I. Available on: Amazon Prime, Criterion Channel
22. Born on the Fourth of July (1989) Tom Cruise's powerful performance as paralyzed Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic, who becomes an anti-war activist after returning from combat. Available on: Amazon Prime, Apple TV
Note: This is not an endorsement for any movie or viewpoint. Streaming availability may vary by region and change over time. Many of these films are also available for rental or purchase on digital platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Check your local library for DVD copies, and consider platforms like Kanopy or Hoopla, which offer free streaming with a library card.
Additional Resource
For more activist films and inspiration, visit: Insider-Outsider Activism Films to Inspire - The Commons Library's curated collection of films that explore the different approaches to creating social change.
Good Trouble Lives On: A Day of Action
On July 17th, the anniversary of Congressman John Lewis’s passing, People Power United is hosting a virtual event to honor his legacy and defend our rights and freedoms.
As Trump and his allies push voter suppression bills like the SAVE Act and criminalize protest, we’re rising up in nonviolent resistance—because in America, the power belongs to the people.
This isn’t just a virtual rally. It’s a moral stand. It’s Good Trouble—alive and marching forward.
Click here to join us.
We are not just resisting—we are reclaiming, rebuilding, and rising. Let’s do it together.
With fierce resolve and people power,
Laurie Woodward Garcia (paid with hugs and kisses, not bought by special interests)
People Power United
People Power United champions progress and power to the people. To support our work, please consider becoming a monthly subscriber to our newsletter for $5 a month.
Thank you for this list. I need the inspiration right now. 😢
Happy Birthday America! Still standing...still standing up.