About the film

The Advocate is an intimate portrait of what it truly costs to stand up for others in contemporary America. Told through the intertwined stories of four young Chicago-based advocates—Jedidiah Brown, Will Calloway, Aleta Clark, and Lamon Reccord—the film traces the personal sacrifices required to confront state violence, systemic racism, and political neglect. It begins with their pivotal role in shutting down Chicago’s first and only Trump campaign rally, and follows them through years of organizing, livestreaming, and public witness on the streets and online. In an era where activism is constantly visible yet rarely sustainable, the film centers not only what they do, but what it takes from them: sleep lost, jobs risked, families strained, and mental and physical health pushed to the edge.

From Laquan McDonald to Harith Augustus to Kenneka Jenkins, these advocates repeatedly put their own lives and futures on hold to lift up families in crisis and communities in mourning, often with little protection, pay, or guarantee of success. They navigate relentless scrutiny, online harassment, and the cumulative trauma of witnessing violence over and over, all while trying to maintain their roles as parents, partners, neighbors, and friends. Set against the backdrop of Chicago—long one of America’s most segregated cities—and a political climate defined by backlash and polarization, The Advocate bridges frontline leaders who have carried these struggles for decades with a new generation of organizers shaped by the post–George Floyd moment. Ultimately, the film is a testament to the quiet, exhausting, and often invisible work of advocacy: what it means to keep showing up for strangers in their darkest hours, and the profound personal toll that commitment exacts on those who refuse to look away.