Jack Karlson, man behind ‘democracy manifest’ meme, dies at 82

The man behind the iconic “democracy manifest” clip has died.

Jack Karlson has passed away at the age of 82, as reported by 7NEWS.

Mr. Karlson became a household name in Australia after footage of his 1991 arrest outside the China Sea Restaurant in Brisbane went viral. He was having lunch with a friend when he was arrested, and his memorable response has since solidified the event as an iconic Australian meme.

“Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest,” he proclaimed during the arrest.

At one point, he called attention to the manner of his arrest, saying, “Have a look at the headlock here. See that chap over there?” and even more famously, “Get your hand off my penis! Get your hand off my penis! This is the bloke who got me on the penis before. Why did you do this to me? For what reason? What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?”

Throughout his life, Mr. Karlson maintained that he wasn’t the man the police were searching for.

In June, his niece had set up a fundraiser after it was reported that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and needed surgery for cataracts. “I know Jack’s video has given a lot of people joy and he has inspired many memes, t-shirts, and other things over the years but Jack himself is doing it quite tough,” she wrote. “He has never had much money but has always been generous to family and friends. He lives week to week in regional QLD with the help of a voluntary carer.”

“Hoping people can dig deep – I think he’s worth at least a beer, maybe even a 6-pack,” she added.

Last week, his niece updated the fundraiser, stating that Mr. Karlson wasn’t doing well. “He has been in Hospital for two weeks now,” she wrote. “He has had multiple procedures but things are not looking good. One thing that did lift his spirits was that the GoFundMe was taking off. He has been really appreciative of the donations and the comments.”

A documentary about Mr. Karlson, titled *The Man who Ate a Succulent Chinese Meal,* is set for release in 2025. Outside of the famous arrest, Mr. Karlson was also known for several prison escapes throughout his life. He shared with ABC’s Earshot that he had escaped from Boggo Road Gaol in 1996 by jumping off a train on the way to a court hearing for breaking, entering, and stealing. On another occasion, he reportedly impersonated a detective to escape from his court cell after being arrested in a stolen car in Parramatta.

Mr. Karlson’s colorful life and indelible arrest moment have left a lasting impact, reminding many of the quirky and unexpected ways individuals can become cultural icons.

Source: 7NEWS, GoFundMe, ABC’s Earshot