In Wake of George Floyd's Murder; Seattle, 2020.

Just days after George Floyd's murder at the hands of Minneapolis police, Seattle protestors took to the streets for several weeks, experiencing a plethora of clashes with police and National Guard. Working as a photojournalist for the school paper and being a visual media student, my school trajectory immediately shifted, as I began to devote the bulk of my time to documentary photography and filmmaking. Day in, day out, I not only attempted to capture imagery from the front lines, but I tried to be conscious and deliberate with the space I was holding for everyone involved. I, along with countless protestors, were needlessly flash banged, tear gassed and pepper sprayed on multiple occasions, which did nothing but fuel my desire to be in this space constantly; a need to experience and really get to know a reality that offshoots from a deeply embedded, systematic issue that has spiraled out of control for decades, if not centuries. There was no where else I would have been. These are some of many moments that I had the privilege to capture from late May to mid-June, leading up to Seattle's formation of the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ). Although not televised, protestors are still gathering and marching one year later, and the need to show and propel their voice is more important than ever.