They're Trying to Kill Us
Portland Premiere Featuring John Lewis

They’re Trying to Kill Us is a groundbreaking documentary directed by John Lewis and Keegan Kuhn (Cowspiracy, What The Health) with Executive Producers seven-time NBA All-Star, Chris Paul and 7X Grammy winner, Billie Eilish. The film features notable influencers from the fields of Hip Hop, medicine, sports, entertainment, policy, and politics weighing in on the singular most deadly threat to American society that mainstream media doesn’t want to talk about.

Sunday, March 16, 2025, 4:30pm
Ecotrust Building, Irving Street Studio
721 NW 9th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
Reception 4:30pm / Speaker 5:15pm / Screening 5:45pm / Discussion 7:30pm

Film Screening, Discussion, Reception
Presented by Veganizer, this special screening of They're Trying to Kill Us features guest speaker John Lewis a.k.a. Badass Vegan. Enjoy delicious snacks by Plant Based Papi and Ice Queen, paired with refreshing sips by GT's Kombucha. We will be donating a portion of ticket sales to Black Futures Farm and Native American Youth and Family Center.

Win the Badass Vegan Cookbook
Your ticket also includes a chance to win the Badass Vegan cookbook. At the end of the evening, we will raffle off a copy of the book. Every ticket is one entry into the raffle.

Pay-It-Forward: Free Community Tickets
If you are interested in attending, but are unable to purchase a ticket due to lack of funds, we have a limited quantity of community tickets available at no cost. These community tickets are funded by Veganizer and attendees who choose to contribute to our pay-it-forward program. 

Update 3/11/2025: All community tickets have been distributed. Please email [email protected] if you are interested in being added to the waitlist. We will contact you if there are any cancellations. Please note that this is not a guarantee that we will be able to offer you a ticket. Thank you for understanding. 

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They're Trying to Kill Us
Audiences journey with co-director John Lewis as he crosses the country seeking answers to why Americans of Color suffer from disproportionately higher rates of chronic disease than their European American counterparts, while examining the intersections of food, disease, race, poverty, institutional racism and government corruption.

Through interviews with cultural influencers, doctors, researchers, politicians, attorneys, professional athletes, activists and experts in the field of food justice, John begins to unravel a story of collusion that has kept millions of Americans sick, while the industries responsible make billions of dollars.

The film follows John as the protagonist and narrator in the documentary because of his unique experience being adopted at birth from his drug addicted birth mother, growing up as an overweight kid in the violence of Ferguson, to becoming a prominent health and wellness advocate promoting compassion.

John Lewis, Badass Vegan
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1977, John Lewis grew up in St. Louis, MO. At a young age of 13 John found himself at 315 pounds, but through hard work and dedication he lost the weight and excelled in football and basketball. He continued his streak of athletic excellence throughout his high school and college years in Mc Cluer Senior High in the heart of Ferguson, Mo. and Harris-Stowe State College respectively. Graduating with a Bachelors degree in marketing, he later went on to pursue his MBA from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

John's education in business coupled with his love for health and fitness gave him the ability to start his venture Badass Vegan — a health and nutrition company that strives to educate individuals on plant based nutrition. John's love for his community brought forth the brainchild of VeganSmart, a plant based protein shake company with a foundation whose mission is to prevent obesity through education, physical activity and plant based nutrition.

As a well renowned fitness expert, John Lewis has spent over 2 decades in the health and fitness industry and played Division I College basketball. John is highly passionate about not only his own health and fitness, but that of others as well, which are evident through his motivational messages either through his international public speaking engagements or simply through his social media outlets. 

John teamed up with Keegan Kuhn, the maker of the award winning What The Health, to release their joint venture feature length documentary They're Trying to Kill Us, which explores the intersections of nutrition and systemic racism. John is also the author of Badass Vegan, an irreverent and eye-opening four-part master plan to help readers shift their mindset and enjoy the massive health benefits and pure pleasures of a plant-based lifestyle.

Jewan Manuel, Plant Based Papi
Chef Jewan Manuel is a force in the culinary world, with over 15 years of experience redefining plant-based cuisine. A Flint, Michigan native, Jewan’s culinary journey started early — dual enrolling in college courses while still in high school to secure a spot in a prestigious university culinary program. His ambition led him to sharpen his skills in award-winning restaurants across Chicago and Grand Rapids, but it was a pivotal move to Los Angeles that shifted his perspective and set the stage for something bigger.

In 2017, Jewan relocated to Portland, Oregon, initially exploring other business ventures before realizing that his true calling was back in the kitchen. In 2018, he launched Plant Based Papi, starting with vegan cheese-making classes before evolving into a must-try local food pop-up, serving his now-famous Plant Based Papi Tacos. By 2019, his underground tasting dinners were drawing sold-out crowds, paving the way for him to open his first brick-and-mortar location in December 2020 — where Portlanders lined up around the block to get a taste.

Now a household name in the Pacific Northwest’s plant-based dining scene, Jewan has opened two of his own vegan establishments and remains committed to pushing culture forward. With a deep focus on ownership, representation, and mentorship, he has partnered with multiple nonprofits, launched his own mentorship program, and serves as a private chef to A-list celebrity clientele. Jewan’s mission is simple but powerful: to uplift his community, break barriers in the culinary industry, and inspire the next generation through food, culture, and creativity.

Rebecca Smith, Ice Queen
Rebecca Smith is a frozen dessert wizard, spinning magic with paletas and house made soft serve at her Portland shop, Ice Queen. She's been keeping Portland cool with her handcrafted treats, earning a sweet spot on the VegNews list of America's best vegan ice cream shops two years running.

GT's Kombucha
At GT's, we believe Mother Nature is our world’s greatest healer. Our philosophy is that food should be your medicine. That’s why we are on a mission to positively transform people from within through functional, living nutrition and enlightenment. For 30 years our living foods have been authentically fueled by plants, raw fermentation, naturally occurring probiotics, and ancient wisdom. Perfect for new and experienced kombucha drinkers alike, SYNERGY is brewed with whole ingredients to cultivate 9 billion living probiotics.

Ticketing
If you have any ticketing questions, please contact [email protected]. Tickets are transferable. Tickets are refundable minus TicketSpice fees up to 48 hours prior to the event. Thank you.