As the discourse around Black Lives Matter and police reform grows ever coarser, racism is revealing itself through protests in all small corners of the country. And that means communities unfamiliar with the role of photojournalists are encountering firsthand the consequences of exercising free speech to spew hate in public spaces.
The disconnect was on full display this weekend in Smithtown, New York, a town of about 117,000 that’s more than 95% white. Local activists with the Long Island Peaceful Protest group planned a rally for Saturday, March 6, to protest the town’s handling of “Thin Blue Line” flags on its fire trucks. They had been there for years, but had recently been removed, then put back after residents complained. The demonstrators planned to march from the train station to the nearby firehouse to express their dismay over the town’s use of a flag that has been in recent years co-opted by racists to attack Black Lives Matter protesters. Throughout the week, a “Back the Blue” counterprotest movement was building, and by Saturday, there were more than 100 “Back the Blue” supporters waiting for the 30 or so Long Island Peaceful Protest marchers.
Predictably, it got ugly. Just take a look at this person, who blocked me, and told me to "Go back to where you came from" as I tried to cover the event with my journalism students:
I have seldom felt fear of physical harm as a photojournalist, but I did fear this person, who was lunging at me with the flag. It turned out my fears were justified, as he later pushed a young black videographer to the ground and fled the scene. I did try to take a picture of him after that happened, and he angrily told me to stop taking pictures of him as he slipped through a fence.
And I got that a lot. As a photojournalist of color, many “Back the Blue” protestors assumed that I was automatically “against” their side. I was there, like my students, to document what happened and let the photos speak for themselves. I think the photo at the top of this post, for instance, says enough. You may even recognize this particular racist from a previous article I wrote on this topic.
A Right To Photograph
The protestors themselves weren’t really saying much when it came to giving me their names, however. Ordinarily, I don’t have trouble getting most people to talk to me for a photo caption. Most with the Long Island Peaceful Protest group did share their identities, and faces, in photos of this protest. However, whenever I pointed my camera at many “Back the Blue” counterprotesters, masks were pulled up, and cries of “No pictures bro,” and “I’m going to shove that camera up your f*cking a*s” followed. One protestor even tracked down my Instagram to leave a comment that I was “doxing” [sic] people in his group:
A commenter accused me of trying to "dox" them while I was engaged in photojournalism.
Funny what @itsyahboyruss considers “respectfully.” Photojournalism isn't doxxing, and it's hard to dox someone when their face is covered by a mask and they refuse to give a name.
Don't Be a Jerk
Whatever the case may be, I often try to follow the “don’t be an a*shole” rule of photography. If someone respectfully asks not to be photographed, I’ll generally move on and shoot someone else. It’s a protest, and there are plenty of other people that don’t mind photographs or at least won’t raise an issue. I may not always get a name out of those people, but at least I’m not getting attacked or threatened.
Supporters of the Long Island Peaceful Protest encountered a large group of "Back the Blue" counter-protestors as the march moved past the Smithtown Fire Department on Saturday, March 6, 2021 to protest the town’s placement of “thin blue line” flags on its fire trucks.
I don’t have to honor their request. There’s no expectation of privacy in this or any public space, and so, perhaps it’s time to clarify what a photojournalist can and cannot do in this context, and it’s pretty simple:
If you’re on a public street in a public place, anybody with a camera, whether it’s a cell phone or Nikon D6, has the right to photograph you doing whatever it is you’re doing — whether that’s espousing racism or fighting against it.
Being a father can be difficult and raising my boy can test me in every way. Then, there are moments like this. We went to the park because he wanted to fly a new kite he got for his birthday. It attracted a lot of attention, like people hadn’t seen a kite before. These kids walked up and asked if they could try it out. Without a second thought, he handed it over and patiently showed them the finer points of how to fly a kite. He worked with them for a while, and then told them he wanted them to keep it. He came back to me with a big smile and told me he gave it to them because “its just joyful watching other people be happy”.
I guess the reason why I decided to share this little story from last week is that I realized that what changes people is love, not protest. I wish people would be more like my son, because even though he has many struggles in his life that he will face forever, he still gave another kid a leg up.
Update, Someone has pointed out that this story may sound insensitive to victims which was not my intent.
glad you literally want to tell folks who are the victims of systemic racism that they should "go fly a kite."
Literally not my intent, but if thats your take, I guess I am a poor writer. My apologies.
Hey ken, I appreciate your sentiments-- but what's jarring for me is the fact that "love" and "protest" are not alternatives. Were we to take the colloquial conception of "love" then that rouses a certain sense of "intent" or "emotion" that imbues something, someone, or some activity. Protest would be a kind of activity-- which is consciously undertaken in response to something. It goes without saying that protests can be ignited by "love" or some concept of morality. Without getting into the weeds, the very intention in a well-coordinated form of activism that aligns with our conceptions of morality, I believe, is to highlight some grave unjust or something inherently broken about the law, its arbiters and system. When we are not directly affected by bad/racist law-- or unjust systems, it becomes very easy to oversimplify.
When motivated by love, human actions truly do have the power to change-- whether that be random acts of kindness, or in protest of something-- and I think that's what you meant from the start-- let me know if I'm reading into it the wrong way.
edited for grammar and slight adjustment in tone
I’ve read Ken’s post carefully and he doesn’t literally tell anyone to go fly a kite. What he does say is that his son has a number of challenges in his life, but he is loving and kind, and love and kindness bring about more change in the world than protest.
Our country is seriously lacking in love. So much hate, anger and violence out there. What will it take for people to stop hating others who they don't even know and haven't done anything to them to cause that?
We need a revival in this country, turning back to GOD.
The God that votes for Trump? Or the God who commands you to treat others as you wish to be treated?
GOD does not cast votes.
Dodged the question. Trump's God or mine? We'll wait.
I personally let people believe what they want to believe. It generally doesn't affect me. But we've come to a point in history where it appears religion, at least christianity in America, is really about control. It's this false sense that these "values" are what makes people better people. Not all of it is wrong but most of the time I just see hypocrites and god has nothing to do with being a good person. Honestly, most people are hypocrites whether they believe in god or not. Everyone has an idea how things should be until it comes time to walk the walk. That's the struggle everyone faces but most people find their way. The basics are don't lie, cheat, steal, harm people mentally or physically. That's it. The rest is how much you want to actually contribute to society as a whole. I know having a community is good, that's undeniable. Although as a human race we can't keep these so close-knit. This creates pockets of people who just won't change for anyone. Which really makes them look like they only care for themselves even though they would drop everything to help one of their own. They'll also defend their way of living even though the rest of the world is moving forward. Unfortunately the last course of action of defending that seems to be violence. They know a peaceful protest is just not going to change a world. America is trying to move in a direction that gives rights to more people. This means less control for the people that like to control people. Coincedently they think that in itself is control of them. Fortunately they are going to be rules to keep a civil society as things become more equal. That is not unfair.
In the end people need to start with showing love and compassion. Teach that to the younger generation. If you teach control all these problems will continue to persist.
Thanks for making my point.
Sure, we can do that when people start showing love toward people of color. Why should they receive love back so we can "heal" or whatever (that's not what would happen by the way, it would just maintain the racist status quo).
The onus is on the racists to show love. NOT the other way around. Responsibilities are constantly placed on black people to educate people about racism, to extend an olive branch, etc. And that's total bullsh*t.
Maybe you’re right. I didn’t mean to imply it would be anyone’s job, but everyone’s with zero expectations. The “onus” is on everyone. To show love to your enemy is a strength. I don’t expect it from anyone, but I hope everyone has a chance to experience it like I did a long time ago.
I appreciate your viewpoint and certainly your willingness to understand what I'm saying. You are coming from a good place, that is clear.
The issue is that there has been an expectation on black people basically forever, and to this day, to forgive those who hurt them and move on. And when that constantly happens, the people who do the hurting don't learn, it just continues.
But again, you're coming from a well-intentioned place and I respect that.
Pretty racist to think that only non-POC are racist...
These people love screaming about the 1st Amendment (99% of the time, they can't even tell you what it actually says). Yeah, you have the right to say whatever you want, but that doesn't mean it doesn't come with consequences. Other people have the right to expose you for the vile person you are. Don't want to be outed as a white supremacist? Stop being one in public.
Better yet, stop being one...period.
Yes, I completely agree that would be ideal. Unfortunately, they'll always be around.
surely you jest! Are you implying that there are CONSEQUENCES for my words? This is a travesty!
If you do not want your picture taken....don't go to any public happenings. If you are a photographer and you are not physically blocking anyone from participating.or illegally trespassing..snap away. Pretty simple
Wasim, would you believe that you and Andy Ngo have a lot in common then? He covers antifa protests and receives very similar grief from them. Each of you seem to be putting yourself out there and evidently from your article, taking some level of risk to provide a truer picture of protests...albeit from different sides of the fence.
Andy Ngo is not a journalist, he's a liar and an instigator who then cries victim.
He's nuts.
This is what the Wall Street Journal said:
“Mr. Ngo, a freelance writer from the area, showed up to cover the protests...while he was recording with his GoPro he was hit in the back of the head, then beaten by several Antifa activists. Footage filmed by an Oregonian reporter shows someone in a black hoodie punching and kicking Mr. Ngo, and others surrounding him and throwing things at him. After escaping the mob, Mr. Ngo went to the hospital and was treated for head injuries including a subarachnoid hemorrhage, or brain bleed. A photo on Twitter shows his bloody face and battered eye.”
I reckon I’d cry victim too if that happened to me
.
I suspect that most of those "protesters" are wearing masks to conceal their identities not as a Covid measure.
I dare you to write one with BLM and Antifa in the photos.
I dare you to not respond to these topics without mentioning Antifa (which is not a real organized group, by the way) or BLM.
He has written about BLM and Antifa. He downplays them as peaceful protestors.
To be fair they were mostly peaceful protests, especially when you're looking at them relatively. The racists stormed the capitol, I mean how anyone can try and flip things and point fingers is absurd.
Mostly peaceful protests? You sound like CNN. And, therein lies the problem. Turning a blind eye to the devastation the BLM and Antifa has done. The Capitol didn't look anything this, correct?
People being more concerned about a burned down liquor store or a flipped car than the police murders of black people is exactly the reason this stuff happens.
If you were being murdered on the spot for literally doing nothing except reaching for your wallet or because some dumbass decided to pin you to the ground so you couldn't breathe, you'd get angry and burn some shit down too.
na
Well, when the cops say, don't move. It means don't move. When they say put your hands where I can see them, it means put your fucking hands where they can see them. See, simple.
Yes, not putting your hands "where I can see them" - a super vague term in and of itself and by definition wholly subjective - is deserving of the fucking death penalty if you don't do it exactly the way they want.
Running away, and thus presenting no threat, is also deserving of the death penalty.
Here in American The Great we just fucking murder people because we don't like what they did.
Panning a digital video camera through a crowd producing skewed, unusable framing is not journalism. Its surveillance. These racist’s should be surveilled, to deter possible violence, but don’t call such garbage video, journalism.
I should have made that more clear - I had a body camera on me - was for my own safety and not what I was primarily capturing. My students and I were there as still photographers. The footage was from the body camera that was clipped to my camera bag’s shoulder strap.
That's actually pretty smart. Probably a good idea for any type of photographer. Thru the years everyone has seen reporters/photographers, etc get their cameras slapped away and destroyed (happens on all sides of the fence-even the tabloid photographers). Having a small pocket/body camera will record the incident for police/insurance documentation.
The article was pretty clear he was there as a photojournalist, not for video.
But way to make assumptions and insult Wasim.
I see the gang is all here...So, once more assistant professor has posted an article to the site dedicated to photography without a single reference to the camera, camera settings, shooting conditions, etc. I agree with Kash Johnson below, assistant professor here and Andy Ngo do have something in common, neither is a photographer.
Totally mentioned a D6 in that last paragraph.
--- "I think the photo at the top of this post, for instance, says enough."
You mean with the a-ok sign?
His hand gesture is widely known as a white power symbol. He was making it in almost every photo I have of him and that my students took as well. I assure you, he was not A-OK the entire time.