The 'Succulent Chinese Meal' Meme Has Been Enshrined In Australia's National Film And Sound Archive

Democracy Manifest or Succulent Chinese Meal refers to a viral video of a petty criminal who called himself Cecil George Edwards, later known as Jack Karlson, being arrested in Sydney, Australia. While the police attempt to put him into a car, Edwards gives an impassioned speech with an eloquent accent, calling the arrest "Democracy Manifest" and complaining that a policeman grabbed his penis. The clip initially went viral in the late 2000s into the 2010s as it was remixed and added to other videos as a meme, additionally being used as a standalone catchphrase online. In early August 2024, news broke that Karlson died at the age of 82, sparking a resurgence in the meme and viral video as tributes and memorials to him spread across the internet. In March 2026, Australia's National Film and Sound Archive then added it to its archives as a notable piece of Australian cultural history.