In a bold move that underscores his commitment to tackling America’s most pressing issues, Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. premiered the documentary “Recovering America” at the Kiva Auditorium.
The film, produced by acclaimed filmmakers Robert Campos, Donna LoCicero, and Brandon Dumlao, sheds light on the nation’s drug addiction crisis, a scourge claiming over 100,000 lives annually and pushing millions more to the brink of death.
The documentary is a harrowing exposé of the addiction epidemic, featuring Kennedy’s personal journey of recovery and visits to innovative programs offering new hope to those struggling with addiction.
“Recovering America” is not just a film; it’s a manifesto for radical change in how the nation addresses drug dependency.
Kennedy’s campaign, fueled by widespread dissatisfaction with the prospect of a rematch between the disgraced former President Donald Tramp and the incumbent President Joe Biden, is gaining traction despite significant hurdles.
Denied Secret Service protection and entangled in bureaucratic red tape and legal challenges from Biden’s allies, Kennedy faces financial constraints that threaten to obscure his message. However, his focus on genuine issues of grave concern to Americans, like the corrupt merger of state and corporate power, is resonating deeply with voters.
Brian Gallagher, an addiction therapist featured in the film, praised Kennedy, saying, “I think someone who has walked the walk—Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—can be our role model out of this phase of American addiction.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. understands addiction. After his father’s death, Kennedy struggled with drug abuse, which led to his arrest in Barnstable, Massachusetts for marijuana possession at age 16, and his expulsion from two boarding schools: Millbrook and Pomfret.
In June 1972, he graduated from the Palfrey Street School, a day school outside Boston. While attending Palfrey, Kennedy lived with a surrogate family at a farmhouse in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
In 1982, Kennedy was sworn in as an assistant district attorney for Manhattan.
After failing the New York bar exam, he resigned in July 1983. That September, he was charged with heroin possession in Rapid City, South Dakota. He pleaded guilty to a single felony charge of possession of heroin in February 1984, whereupon he was sentenced to two years’ probation and community service. He originally faced a potential sentence of two years in prison.
After his arrest, he entered a drug treatment center. To satisfy one of the conditions of his probation, Kennedy worked as a volunteer for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and was required to attend regular drug-rehabilitation sessions. His probation ended a year early.
A live panel discussion with Kennedy, moderated by Dr. Drew, followed the screening, providing a platform for discussing real solutions to the crisis.
Kennedy’s vision extends beyond addiction. He calls for a fundamental restructuring of American governance to free it from corporate control.
At his October 9, 2023, declaration of independence from the two-party system in Philadelphia, Kennedy echoed the Founding Fathers’ spirit.
“Like the Founding Fathers declared their independence from the crown more than two centuries ago, today we declare our independence from the corrupting influence of Wall Street and corporate donors that have rigged our economy for the few at the expense of the many,” he proclaimed.
His accusations are scathing: Big Agriculture controls the Department of Agriculture, leading to unhealthy food; military contractors dominate the Department of Defense, perpetuating endless wars; Wall Street dictates terms to the Federal Reserve, Treasury, and SEC, decimating the middle class; big polluters and extractive industries have a stranglehold on the EPA, resulting in environmental degradation; and Big Pharma’s grip on the CDC, FDA, and NIH ensures that healthcare costs soar while chronic diseases proliferate.
Kennedy argues that neither major party has the will or ability to address these systemic problems.
President Trump promised to drain the swamp but filled his administration with corporate lobbyists and insiders. President Biden, with half a century in Washington, is seen as an entrenched part of the problem.
In stark contrast, Kennedy pledges to restore government integrity by installing honest, competent leadership across federal agencies, rooting out corruption, and making government transparent and accountable to the people.
His specific commitments include:
- Appointing reformers and whistleblowers to lead federal agencies
- Issuing an executive order to shut the revolving door between government and lobbying with a five-year ban on lobbying by former administration officials
- Enhancing transparency to restore public trust in government
Kennedy’s call to action is clear: Only an independent president, free from the entanglements of the two-party system and corporate corruption, can reclaim the government for the American people.
His crusade against the corporate takeover of American democracy is not just a campaign; it’s a mission to transform the nation and restore its founding principles.
To witness this pivotal moment and join the movement, watch the event at Recovering America Documentary Premiere with RFK Jr..
As Kennedy navigates the treacherous waters of American politics, his message remains unyielding: The future of America depends on breaking free from the chains of corporate dominance and reviving a government truly by the people, for the people.