The Mornings After the Nights Before
For those interested I decided to do a photographic, journalistic essay. Following scholars like @AcademicDiary, the idea is to develop a sociological lens through which to better understand the social world, using our ethnographic eyes, ears
For those interested I decided to do a photographic, journalistic essay. Following scholars like @AcademicDiary, the idea is to develop a sociological lens through which to better understand the social world, using our ethnographic eyes, ears
Protest movements have often been infiltrated by the State in an attempt to discredit them and reshape public opinion, and especially in Los Angeles by the LAPD, for example see Mike Davis’s work: jacobinmag.com/2020/05/mike-d…
And, by definition, crowds are rarely uniform and always have a mix of groups with different agendas and intentions. I mention these points, purely to give critical context to the “truth” of the images I shot.
The Mornings After the Nights Before
The Mornings After the Nights Before
"Police Brutality (Racism) Is a Preventable Cause of Death 1312"
"The Officers Who Have Betrayed Our Country and Its People Must Be Held Accountable For Treason"
"To Protect and To Serve"
"To Protect and To Serve"
Scholars such as @cliffordstott & @ReicherStephen have shown the importance of police "deescalation tactics" when dealing with crowds. Over 3 days, the only time I saw this happen was when two black officers engaged in conversation with protestors outside of the downtown LAPD HQ.
"George Floyd Murdered by Police!"
Police on 7th Street/Grand
"Pussy"
"No Justice No Peace"
"If They Kill We Can Too"
"Fuck Cops"
"If They Kill We Can Too"
"Fuck Cops"
"You are a goddess (On Indian Land!!!) living in a city of ange[r]s"
"Stolen Land"
"Stolen Land"
"Fuck Da Police"
"Fuck Mayor Garcetti"
Note: The original tag misspelled the Mayor's name and was "corrected". It appears that even in the midst of running battles with the police, correct spelling is important to LA's graffiti artists! (see "The City Beneath: A Century of Los Angeles Graffiti")
Note: The original tag misspelled the Mayor's name and was "corrected". It appears that even in the midst of running battles with the police, correct spelling is important to LA's graffiti artists! (see "The City Beneath: A Century of Los Angeles Graffiti")
"Black Lives Matter"
"FTP/Fuck 12" and clean up
"Revolution"
"Can't Stop Till Justice is Served!!!"
"Remember George Floyd!"
"Fuck This Shit"
Shops boarded up. Note: unlike other cities of comparable size, most major retailers don't have any stores in DTLA. With the exception of the major banks and Starbucks, and a few others, most shops on the main streets that were worst hit (Broadway and Hill) are small/family owned
"Please Don't Kill My Dad. I Need Him!"
"Dear Good Cops You Have a Choice To Correct Your Partner"
"Dear Good Cops You Have a Choice To Correct Your Partner"
"Fuck LAPD"
LAPD close down streets in downtown
"We're In This Together Stay Positive Stay Home"
"The Revolution Has Begun"
Empty, upturned Adidas box
Burnt sneaker
Manekin arm, still smoldering
"Gone Fishing"
"There Can Be No Love Without Justice"
"Protect Each Other The Law is the Enemy Leave No Opponents"
"Anti-Racism"
"Our Lives Matter"
Shepard Fairey (not tagged)
"Bryant 24" (not tagged)
"Circle-A"
"Fight Back!/LA Riots 2020"
"Fuck Trump"
"Fuck Trump"
"Stop Killing Us" (various)
"Capital Death Now"
MedMen looted
"Joshua and Liam"
Joshua told me he did not live downtown, but had driven in to help with the clean up and wanted his son Liam to understand what was happening and why, as they picked up glass and debris from a car park.
Joshua told me he did not live downtown, but had driven in to help with the clean up and wanted his son Liam to understand what was happening and why, as they picked up glass and debris from a car park.
Impromptu Facebook groups encouraged downtown residents to help clean up the broken glass and debris of the businesses in the area. I saw 3 groups of about 10 or more individuals, helping to clean up.
Local residents help to clean up Broadway, DTLA.
The Mornings After the Nights Before: End
On Sunday, the National Guard set up base at the Convention Center. As night fell, they were helping to enforced a curfew.
Baldwin warned of "the fire next time". No one knows what the morning will bring.
But LA and the US is burning.
On Sunday, the National Guard set up base at the Convention Center. As night fell, they were helping to enforced a curfew.
Baldwin warned of "the fire next time". No one knows what the morning will bring.
But LA and the US is burning.
