A conversation with the Honorable Barbara Lee, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California and Ms. Abby Ginzberg, Documentary Filmmaker, as part of the Pacific Council x World Affairs Global Leaders Series.  

*Register by Monday, August 16 to receive a virtual pre-screening pass for the documentary film, Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power, available to view at home on August 17-19.*

Featuring: 

The Honorable Barbara Lee, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California 

Congresswoman Lee is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chair of the subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. She serves as Co-Chair of the Steering and Policy Committee, former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Chair Emeritus of the Progressive Caucus, Co-Chair of the CongressionalAsian Pacific American Caucus Health Task Force, and Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus. She also serves as Chair of the Majority Leader’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity. As a member of the House Democratic Leadership, she is the highest ranking African American woman in the U.S. Congress.

Ms. Abby Ginzberg, Documentary Filmmaker 

Abby Ginzberg, a Peabody award-winning director, has been producing compelling documentaries about race and social justice for over 35 years. Her most recent film, Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power is an intimate, compelling film about Rep. Barbara Lee, who is best known for her lone "no" vote against the use of military force following the 9/11 attacks and has spent the last 23 years in Congress fighting for peace, justice, and equality.  

Background: 

Barbara Lee, the highest ranking African-American woman in the US Congress, is a steadfast voice for human rights, peace and economic and racial justice who cut her teeth as a volunteer for the Black Panther Party and was the lone vote in opposition to the broad authorization of military force following the September 11th attacks.  Representing California’s 13th Congressional District, the Democratic lawmaker is a proponent of safe communities, addressing hunger, environmental justice, universal health care, and just immigration policies among others.  On the occasion of the release of a new feature-length documentary, World Affairs and the Pacific Council on International Policy have a unique opportunity to talk with her about her life’s work, along with documentarian Abby Ginzberg. 

“Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power” tells the complex story of Representative Barbara Lee, a dynamic figure in US politics. The film reveals how many of the challenges faced by Barbara Lee early in her life provided her with the motivation and commitment to improve the lives of others throughout her tenure as an elected representative. Through personal access to this sitting member of Congress, the film incorporates reflections from others such as Senator Cory Booker, Rep. John Lewis, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, CNN commentator Van Jones, actor Danny Glover, and author Alice Walker, and captures insights from public voices about what makes Barbara Lee unique as a public servant and truth-teller.  

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