View allAll Photos Tagged Sayhername,
For Macro Mondays - New
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One of my nieces gifted me with this tiny quilt created by her very talented mother who passed away last year. Her gift brought tears to my eyes. My sister-in-law, Mary Beth, was such a talented artist and a beautiful example of a life well lived. This tiny work of art is 3" x 2.5". HMM, everyone ! !
The last nearly four years have seemed like eons for me. Every day that I can bear to pay attention, I am horrified by what atrocities Trump is responsible for. I have gone to so many protests in so many places for so many causes/reasons, both well attended and scarcely attended in good weather and in the middle of a freezing cold winter. There are times I have really questioned what good it even does but a little voice in my head has still told me it was the right thing to do.
But, then the Coronavirus hit and I wondered seriously if protesting was the right thing to do…after reading the statistics in my own city about people of color being killed by the Coronavirus at a much higher rate than white people, I had to ask myself, is it actually a case of white privilege if I protest? This seems like such a strange thing to ask when you are protesting your outrage about a man being killed only because he happened to be Black and existing in America but still I had to ask. Because, if I am part of the problem of spreading this virus and my presence results in more deaths of more people of color, isn’t that defeating the purpose? In addition, how about all of the healthcare workers who have been burdened for so long? Why should I make a choice for them that could affect the survival and treatment of myself and others? It just seemed too risky for this die hard protestor.
I have never dealt with this kind of moral dilemma before. My sense of right and wrong is usually pretty strong and doesn’t leave room for tons of contemplation and deliberation. I can’t really remember the last time I had to seriously ponder “What is the right thing to do in this situation?” asking myself again and again. I usually just know these things intuitively and then try to make my best ethical choice. I’m not saying that I don’t see layers of grey between black and white so much as just I have an idea of how to act in terms of what is right with my soul. I’m also not saying that I don’t learn new things and from the perspective of others and change based on being open to learning. But, the idea of what is fundamentally the ethical choice to make about whether or not to attend a protest for a cause I believe in has never been this difficult before.
And, there is the other side of things that I don’t really like to talk about-the more human side of things. I am unfortunately all too human in my fears about contacting Coronavirus/Covid19. To be honest, I’m the type of person that gets nervous taking a walk in my own neighborhood and gets frustrated when I see the joggers and dog walkers on my street roaming without a mask or groups of a few friends partying on a rooftop in close proximity. It seems pretty hypocritical to me that I’d also be finding myself amidst thousands of people in super close proximity sometimes under overpasses neck to neck, masks or no.
So, what I am saying is that I am actually probably a little paranoid. For a large part of my life, I didn’t realize I was any different from others in my fears until I went to college and learned about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and realized that my irrational fear of death that took hold of me if I didn’t do certain things when I was little-tap my fingers every time I saw a green car, squeeze my toes every time I passed a squirrel-that sort of thing-wasn’t what most kids go through. And, it was crippling. Most of the time, I would cry hysterically thinking I was going to die and great harm would really come to my family and I if I told anyone and voiced these fears out loud. I know, I know…it sounds crazy and doesn’t make tons of sense. And, even though I know that and have gotten better dealing with this side of my self as an adult, it still hasn’t gone away completely. There’s a real instinctual fear that makes me think the worst will happen to me.
The news, of course, doesn’t help…and consider that non essential businesses were shuttered and school was cancelled for the rest of the year, I am even more terrified about the damage this virus can do. Then, there’s also the choir study…where they found that one man in close proximity singing with a choir infected pretty much the whole choir and killed a few too. Of course, this is outdoors, but I still can’t help thinking about all of the times I opened my mouth to chant pro Black Life Matters sentiments even if I was wearing a mask.
And, in many ways, I feel like I am not even worthy enough to say the name of George Floyd or Breonna Taylor who should have turned 27 on Friday, the day that I joined these protests. Because, as someone who is white, I could never know the true horror of this. She was a hero, an EMT worker, and it wasn’t just her own life and her family that was robbed but all of our lives and the sadness is overpowering. So, I ended up saying her name a few thousand times and feeling like I was losing my mind because I couldn’t rewind time and change reality.
I don’t know the answer to all of this and I still don’t know if I contracted the virus or not. But, in any case, I hope that these protests meant something and continue to mean something. Maybe it actually means more to those in power that people would risk their lives to fight for Black Lives and, if those mayors and governors really care about the citizens of their city, they have to act on these social justice issues-hold police accountable, take police out of schools and bring in social workers, counselors, librarians, art and music creative outlets instead. Let’s have a dance class or a drama class instead of kids being subjected to cruel excessive force and mock prison cells from early ages. Surely anything that helps kids is better than something doing active harm. Let’s put more money into mental health facilities instead of incarcerations. Let’s make sure when someone is released from prison that they have a job to go to. Let’s make sure our citizens have healthcare and that there are valid low income housing measures. All of these things will reduce crime and improve the quality of life. That is the direction we need to think in instead of increasing a police force. We need to think about the disparities between communities and races and ensure these people are protected and treated with respect-the same respect and treatment white people have been taking for granted in my country for centuries.
Above: a new mural for George Floyd, murdered by a group of police officers in a complicit system where the police are protected from their evil racist acts.
This mural was recently completed in the past couple of days and is found in Humboldt Park, Chicago on Division Avenue just east of California Ave. Cristian J. Roldán and Esther Kovacs
***All photos are copyrighted***
Breonna Taylor mural at 28th and Walnut in Denver, CO by @justcreatedit, @detour303, and @hieroveiga. #spraytheirname.
ᴡᴇ ʟɪᴠᴇ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʀᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ᴄᴏᴘꜱ ᴄᴀɴ ᴀᴄᴛ ᴏɴ ɪᴍᴘᴜʟꜱᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴜɴᴛʀᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ᴄɪᴠɪʟɪᴀɴꜱ ᴍᴜꜱᴛ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴ ᴄᴀʟᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ɢᴜɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ. ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴡɪʟʟ ɪᴛ ꜱᴛᴏᴘ?
ᴛʜᴇʏ ꜱᴛᴇᴀʟ ᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴜʟᴛᴜʀᴇ, ʟɪᴠᴇꜱ & ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴇ ᴏᴜʀ ꜰᴀᴛᴇ.
ꜱᴏɴʏᴀ ᴍᴀꜱꜱᴇʏ ꜱʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴀʟɪᴠᴇ ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ!
#sonyamassey #sayhername #justiceforsonyamassey
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: °· ᴅɪ-ᴛᴀɪʟᴢ:
⋆ ᴜɴᴏʀᴛʜᴏᴅᴏx x “ɴɪꜱᴇ ꜰʀᴏ (ꜰᴇᴍᴍᴇ)” ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɪɴꜱᴛᴏʀᴇ.
↳ʟᴍ: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/XODOHTRONU/128/129/3153
⋆ ꜱʏɴɴᴇʀɢʏ ᴛᴀᴠɪꜱ x “ᴘᴏʟɪᴄᴇ ꜱᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ꜱᴄᴇɴᴇ” ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɪɴꜱᴛᴏʀᴇ.
Peaceful protest in front of the Los Angeles Hall of Justice, held in honor of families that have lost their children because of police violence.
Flower Vigil held in honor of Breonna Taylor, but also in honor all all black women. Hundreds of people gathered to lay flowers on the name of Breonna Taylor but to call for protection for black lives, especially for the lives of black women. Sharing black stories in South Central, Los Angeles.
Peaceful protest in front of the Los Angeles Hall of Justice, held in honor of families that have lost their children because of police violence.
A few hundred protesters began walking at noon to complete the four miles from Bourbonnais to the Kankakee County Courthouse. While sitting on the front lawn, they listened to activists talk about their experiences and advice for standing up against what they perceived as injustice. They then returned to their starting point for a round trip walk of about eight miles.
Black Lives Matter March - Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA
For more information on #SayHerName, the hashtag revolving around seeking justice for black women at the hands of police brutality, visit this website:
www.aapf.org/sayhernamereport/
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Hello all!
I promise that I didn't mean to be absent so long but some personal challenges that have come about since mid-october - and intensified a bit since - have kept me either emotionally or physically drained but things are getting back on track now and I while I wanted to bookmark the year by ending it with another splashy photoshoot I think I'll let myself rest instead and allow the new year's refreshing properties to fully let my creativity flow.
until then, happy holidays! XOXO
Graffiti art mural (in downtown Ottawa, Canada) in honour of Sandra Bland, who was found dead in a Waller County jail cell in Texas on July 13, 2015. She will not be forgotten.
This one is from the Women's March and is your periodic reminder that what is happening is not normal in any way and that we all need to support each other. This family was so breathtakingly beautiful that I was elated they said I could photograph them. I always aim to show that people protesting for human rights often include beautiful families who have the very reasonable goal of wanting a better future for their kids. It shouldn't ever be thought of as radical to protest for equal human rights whether it be related to gender, gender and sexual identity, race or for people with disabilities and so many other issues concerning a free press, Science and the environment-you name it. You can literally just protest anything Trump has done because he hasn't done anything that helps anyone but the top 1% of white able bodied heterosexual men. And somehow, he's allowed to commit treason, obstruct justice, and separate immigrant children from their families. They wouldn't even let Obama eat nicer mustard.
I also wanted to point out that, even though it is the one year anniversary of the death of Heather Heyer and it is right to remember her, we should be also remembering the fallen women of color who everyone seems to forget about after a day or two. If Black Lives *really* Matter to us then we need to mourn the lost of their lives, their human stories, and realize that their families are suffering as well.
We also need to mourn the humans who are transgender who have fallen victim to violence. If you ignore these things, it doesn't stop them from happening. We need a better, kinder world.
www.hrc.org/resources/violence-against-the-transgender-co...
**All photos are copyrighted.**
Say Her Name Mural - A new BLM mural by the collective of Phoenix artists for Love Fights Back AZ. On the way to completion in an alley off Roosevelt Row in central downtown arts district.
Her name is Charleena Lyles, a young, pregnant mentally ill woman who was shot dead by Seattle Police after they responded to her report of a burglary of her home. She was speaking irrationally and carrying a knife which she did not put down as instructed. The officers felt threatened by this less than 100 pound woman and shot her in her kitchen. Her three young children were in the home and one of them came and put their head on her stomach after she was shot according to the officers report.
Photographed, with the subject's permission, at the 46th Annual American Indian Council Powwow, Montana State University March 26, 2022.
The phrase "Say Her Name" refers to the movement to bring awareness to deaths of African American women caused by police brutality and other sources of violence against women.
This is the first time I've seen it in the context of Native American issues around missing and murdered indigenous women (and children, and men) such as those Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has on her agenda to address.
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: A woman cuts off and holds a large chunk of her hair in the air to stand in solidarity with the Iran protests as a large crowd around her cheer and chant.
Context:
Thousands turn out in Melbourne to stand in solidarity with protests that have broken out in Iran following the death of 22-year old Mahsa (also known as Jina or Zhina) Amini at the hands of the country’s brutal dictatorship and its ‘morality’ police.
My website: www.matthrkac.com.au
Follow me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/matt.hrkac/
And Facebook: www.facebook.com/MattHrkac
Support my work: chuffed.org/project/photojournalism-from-the-front-line-o...
Chicago, IL
June 7th, 2020
All photos © Joshua Mellin per the guidelines listed under "Owner settings" to the right.
We met at Monroe park, marched through portions of the Whitaker and Westside Jefferson neighborhoods, gathered at Washington-Jefferson Park, and returned to Monroe Park for an after party.
We met at Monroe park, marched through portions of the Whitaker and Westside Jefferson neighborhoods, gathered at Washington-Jefferson Park, and returned to Monroe Park for an after party.
This march happened the night before Labor Day. Things have been a bit hectic around here since then.
Stand Up To Racism March 2016
Anti-racism march in London. 19/03/2016. There were also marches in Glasgow and Cardiff, organized by the Stand Up to Racism group, under the “Refugees Welcome Here” banner.
Marches were also held all across Europe.
23 shots - more later.
From what I could tell, there were definitely hundreds of people and vehicles that showed up and it probably went well into the thousands by the starting time. This created an hours-long traffic jam on State Street into the Chicago Loop from 26th Street near the South Loop. Vehicles from out of state were also present, such as this one from Michigan.
Chicago Car Caravan - Justice 4 George Floyd, Illinois, USA
Thurston does not have the reputation that would welcome a Racial Justice street protest. You can expect even more outrage when you through in heavy anti-Trump, and anti-cop vibes. Still, most of the people who came out of their houses were supportive. Some of the local teens joined the march. Even the local police, and some mean-mugging flag wavers, lined up to pay their respects.
A group of Springfield folks decided to have a march to show their love of cops. ACAB met them on the streets. There was tension.
Thurston does not have the reputation that would welcome a Racial Justice street protest. You can expect even more outrage when you through in heavy anti-Trump, and anti-cop vibes. Still, most of the people who came out of their houses were supportive. Some of the local teens joined the march. Even the local police, and some mean-mugging flag wavers, lined up to pay their respects.
We met at Monroe park, marched through portions of the Whitaker and Westside Jefferson neighborhoods, gathered at Washington-Jefferson Park, and returned to Monroe Park for an after party.
We met at Monroe park, marched through portions of the Whitaker and Westside Jefferson neighborhoods, gathered at Washington-Jefferson Park, and returned to Monroe Park for an after party.
This march happened the night before Labor Day. Things have been a bit hectic around here since then.
We met at Monroe park, marched through portions of the Whitaker and Westside Jefferson neighborhoods, gathered at Washington-Jefferson Park, and returned to Monroe Park for an after party.
Thousands turn out in Melbourne to stand in solidarity with protests that have broken out in Iran following the death of 22-year old Mahsa (also known as Jina or Zhina) Amini at the hands of the country’s brutal dictatorship and its ‘morality’ police.
My website: www.matthrkac.com.au
Follow me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/matt.hrkac/
And Facebook: www.facebook.com/MattHrkac
Support my work: chuffed.org/project/photojournalism-from-the-front-line-o...