#john raines

Y’all. Tonight on @drunkhistory the bestest comedic + historic nonsense partner #ElijahWood and I bring you the story of John and Bonnie Raines. • It’s the kind of tale you’d pitch as a movie and everyone in the room would say, “no one will believe that,” except that it REALLY HAPPENED and they’re friggin’ American heroes!! [swipe to see them in 2014 😍] • Don’t miss this. Also. Thank you to @dw34 and the whole #DrunkHistoryteam for having me. Now turn on @comedycentral and get ready to drink your chickens and eat your beers. #youllgetthejoketonight #ilovemyjob

John an' Bonnie Runes wuz un ordinree yung marrd cuple n' t'earlee 1970s, raisyun' three youngns n' a Philadelfia suburb, he a college professer an' she a homemak'r. John had bee a Freedum Rid'r n' t'1960s, an' he an' his'n...

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A conversation with two activists who sparked a congressional investigation: The burglary in Media, Pa., on March 8, 1971, is a historical echo today, as disclosures by the former National Security Agency contractor Edward J. Snowden have cast another unflattering light on government spying and opened a national debate about the proper limits of government surveillance. The burglars had, until now, maintained a vow of silence about their roles in the operation. They were content in knowing that their actions had dealt the first significant blow to an institution that had amassed enormous power and prestige during J. Edgar Hoover’s lengthy tenure as director.

Not to mention, we have John and Bonnie Raines--who recently came out as two of the burglars responsible--and filmmaker Johanna Hamilton joining for this special screening at the  World Voices Festival. Reserve your seats here.

All photos courtesy of Sylvia G Photography.

Stay tuned for more behind the scenes of the John Raines sculpture including an interview & photos!

Back in 1971, John Raines, and his wife, Bonnie, were part of an eight-member group of anti-Vietnam War protesters who dubbed themselves The Committee To Investigate The FBI that broke into the FBI office in Media, PA, and left with 1,000 documents that revealed, for the first time, the details of a massive domestic FBI spying operation known as COINTELPRO. Thus setting in motion a chain of events, not the least of them the death of J. Edgar Hoover, that lead to Congressional hearings that lead to, for a time at least, tough new oversight that took the Bureau, as well as the CIA, out of the domestic dissent-crushing business and back in the business of defending truth, justice and the American way.