Iconic democracy manifest meme is being “preserved” for history

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The popular meme featuring the phrase “this is democracy manifest” is now part of Australia’s official historical record, having been added to the national film and sound archive.

You’ve probably come across the viral video labeled “this is democracy manifest” online. It originates from an incident in 1991, when a man named Jack Karlson asserted he was falsely arrested in Brisbane, Australia.

Cecil George Edwards, better known as Karlson and with a criminal record, famously delivered his iconic lines while police were forcing him into a car, all captured by television cameras.

“What are the charges? Is this democracy in action? Look at this – I’m being held in a headlock! Get your hand off me! What did I even do? Was it for eating? Just enjoying a nice Chinese meal? Oh, I see – you guys are good at judo,” he said, clearly bewildered.

Succulent Chinese meal meme enshrined in history

The now-famous outburst has become a classic internet moment and has been officially preserved by Australia’s National Film and Sound Archive for future generations.

According to the NSFA, the continued relevance of Karlson’s ‘Democracy Manifest’ speech highlights both how easily videos can spread online and the speech’s lasting impact on popular culture.

What started as a basic news clip of 1990s Brisbane has become a well-known story within the video editing world, then a viral hit, and now a genuine part of pop culture. It’s constantly re-edited and deeply embedded in our collective memory.

The person who originally created the popular video passed away in August 2024, but it’s still widely watched on YouTube and frequently shared online. It’s become so popular, people are even printing it on t-shirts.

This isn’t the first example of internet history being preserved. The very first video uploaded to YouTube, titled ‘Me at the zoo,’ is now on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

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2026-03-31 12:52