In 2019, former host of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart gave an impassioned speech during his testimony to the US Judicial Committee where he criticized Congress for not providing aid to thousands of sick and dying 9/11 First Responders. Jon's speech went viral almost immediately. Time Magazine even called Jon’s testimony, “One of the most important moments of 2019.” However, the journey that brought him to that fateful hearing began eighteen years earlier by the most unlikely of people, a construction worker named John Feal.

For nearly two decades, John Feal dedicated his life fighting for the rights of Responders and volunteers who came to help in the 9/11 rescue and recovery operations. John wasn’t just an advocate, he was also a fellow responder who was nearly fatally injured while working on the pile. In the years since September 11th, 2001, hundreds of thousands of First Responders have fallen victim to fatal respiratory illnesses and cancers. Sadly, these numbers are drastically growing every year. Despite the overwhelming conclusive evidence that these terminal conditions are directly related to the exposure of toxins released at Ground Zero, First Responders were continually denied coverage by their existing medical insurance. That was until John Feal and Jon Stewart came to their rescue. 

Together, John and Jon put the international spotlight on the injustices being served to the entire 9/11 community. Their relentless activism and public shaming resulted in the U.S. Senate passing the Zadroga Act and Victims Compensation Fund, a health and compensation bill that gives medical and financial assistance to thousands of terminally ill 9/11 First Responders. 

No Responders Left Behind follows John and Jon over the span of several years during their grass-roots social advocacy campaigns. From New York to Washington and all across the United States, these two unsung heroes set out to inspire and encourage a whole new generation of people to dedicate their lives to activism. John Feal and Jon Stewart never took no for an answer and never settled for the many compromises that were offered by US government officials.  Instead, they fought tirelessly for years so that all the heroes of 9/11 were taken care of.  No Responders Left Behind shines a light on a group of grass root social activists who took on the government and won - simply because it was the right thing to do.