Jack Karlson, aka Mr Democracy Manifest, a cultural icon whose arrest became legend in Australia’s modern history, has died.
Karlson created one of Australia’s greatest memes after footage of his arrest in 1991 went viral on YouTube in 2009.
On that day, cameras captured Karlson protesting his innocence as police placed him under arrest out front of a Chinese restaurant in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.
He bellowed to the camera words that would echo through generations as a viral meme, “Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest.”
“What is the charge? Eating a meal, a succulent Chinese meal?”
After retiring from a life of cracking safes and repeated prison escapes, Karlson lived the rest of his life off the grid in south-east Queensland.
Just a few months ago, it was announced that there would be a documentary surrounding Karlson’s life.
Karlson died surrounded by loved ones in hospital after being diagnosed with prostate cancer this year.
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