Beyond documenting the beautiful, photographers should capture the raw voice of the people. Right now, the voice of the people has unleashed the perfect storm, with over 2,000 American cities and 60 countries erupting into Black Lives Matter (#BLM) protests over George Floyd’s death and the underpinning system racism. His death lit the flames of a dangerous brew between restlessness from two months of COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place, unemployment rates rising to 20%, and broken economic social contracts that promised help and hope.
While the two main characters are Black people and the police, we need to remember that the driving forces are long-standing systemic failures in economic and racial justice. On an individual level, we still need to empathize before any real change can happen. I am glad to see the photos of peaceful protesters protecting a policeman who got isolated from his group. I am moved to see police kneeling and acknowledging the pain of the people.
Seattle has been home of both peaceful and violent-outburst protests. Now, it has evolved into CHAZ / CHOP (Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, renamed to Capitol Hill Occupied Protest), a 6-block radius around the Seattle Police Capitol Hill precinct. Some conservative news outlets claim it is a lawless zone with high crime and extortion, but that is far from the truth of what I witnessed on June 14th afternoon. Some business were still open, and many food places had increase of sales/traffic. Here’s a realistic summary by Politico that rang true to my personal experience. The best summary sentence is:
“It seemed by turns like a commune (as in Paris 1871), an anarcho-syndicalist and small-L libertarian dream, a ’60s-style teach-in, a street fair and street market, a campout and weekend party, a poetry slam and pilgrimage, a school service day, a mass healing circle, a humbler urban version of Burning Man, and of course a protest rally.” ~ Politico
As a local photographer, I felt the need to emerge from my COVID-19 shelter-in-place and witness/document this historic event.
If you want to donate to fight systemic racism, here’s some recommended organizations.
Feels more like a fair than an angry mob…?
Redesignation of CHAZ to CHOP. Many wore black as a sign of support and solidarity.
Beyond their presence, artists shared their work, and passerbys shared their humor/creativity.
Three different people napped in this hammock during the few hours I was there. This is about as anti-rabble rousing as you can get…
Free fruit and fresh hamburgers for everyone to take and enjoy.
Grand gestures of charity… and if it truly was lawless, people should have been scrambling over the free items…
This is how a community takes care of one another. A Ben and Jerry’s ice cream truck rolled in to give free ice cream later in the day.
“Hey!! I haven’t seen Gogurts in forever!!”
Volunteers coming together to restock the free pantries
A world turned upside down.
Navigating the crowd during a Native American drumming circle.
Listening to the Native Americans singing and speaking of their silenced history with the white man.
During a Native American drumming circle, these white citizens helped the lady in the wheelchair through the crowds.
A sacred space for reflection and remembrance.
The Seattle Police Department abandoned precinct in the heart of CHOP.
Growing bombs and violence? Far from it… try plants and veggies…
“Things we learned” is how we all need to frame these times…
We cannot let hope die.