Documentary Screening - Dysmocracy: The Fight Over Fluoride

Join us for an exclusive screening of a new documentary that explores the state of our democracy through one town’s explosive political fight.

When fluoridation started in Grand Rapids, it wasn’t just a public health experiment—it was the opening act of decades of political conflict that would predict our modern polarized era. How can we learn from this and get better at doing democracy together?

Dysmocracy: The Fight Over Fluoride follows the people of Port Angeles, WA, as they split over a looming decision: Whether to fluoridate their public water. This episodic film weaves between opposing perspectives to bring you inside the worldviews and experiences of activists, medical professionals, journalists, elected leaders, and ordinary citizens who navigated a crisis that nearly dissolved their local government. But this story is about much more than fluoride: It’s about how we can live in a healthy democracy when we have such polarized points of view.

This is not just a film screening—we want to hear from you! What do you think about both sides of this issue? Did elected leaders do the public wrong? How far is too far for activism to go? Can we trust what experts tell us? How do we know?

Through brief intermissions and an interactive discussion led by the filmmakers, you will have the chance to weigh in with your own opinions.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Devos Communication Center, 3201 Burton Street Southeast, Grand Rapids, United States

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