Documentary 1971 shows at Leelanau School

From staff reports

Come see 1971, the award-winning documentary featuring John and Bonnie Raines, Glen Lake summer residents and subjects of this film and book The Burglary. The free, public event will be Tuesday, July 14, at 3 p.m. in the Leelanau School auditorium, one mile north of Glen Arbor.

The film focuses on the events of March 8, 1971, when eight people broke into an FBI office in Media, Penn. The group, all of whom were ordinary citizens, called themselves the Citizens’ Commission to Investigate the FBI and stole every file in the office. The content in the stolen files ranged from training manuals to information about organized crime and draft resistance. Over time the group mailed the files to various newsrooms. One of the more significant elements in the stolen materials were files relating to COINTELPRO, a secret surveillance program that was run by J. Edgar Hoover. The film was produced by six filmmakers including Laura Poitras, who most recently directed Citizenfour, about Edward Snowden.

The Raines will be on stage to answer questions following the screening. The book will be available for purchase. The event is sponsored by Leelanau Independent Women for Democratic Action (LIWdA).