Street Protests – Immigration Marches and Recent Resistance 

These are pictures created over the last fifteen years around a new resurgence of activism and street protests. American history is a long story of people from other lands toiling in this place, struggling to make their way, often gathering and fighting to be recognized, and re-imagining this new ideal. The first colonists, the African slaves, the Irish immigrants, the railroad Chinese: we all have seen the costs of that struggle for a more perfect union. Those who strive for their voices to be heard, their presence to be known, and justice to be served are heroes.

In the spring of 1972, I marched in the streets of Denver against the mining of Haiphong Harbor. It was the last large student mobilization against the American war in Vietnam. Over thirty years later I found myself in the street again, marching in a futile attempt to stop the buildup to the U.S. invasion of Iraq. That seemed to be an awakening of the people to a government that wasn’t listening. But it was also apparent there were issues about disinformation and careful phrasing to create fear. 

Mass protest has once again become a mode of solidarity and power. The distrust of government, mainstream media, and even science continues to be a challenge. The internet’s democratization of publishing and distribution has leveled media’s playing field. It has reduced journalistic integrity. Truth has lost its authority amid a cacophony of opinions and entertainment that masquerades as news. 

These images are documents of this new moment. The off-camera light speaks to both the idea of the enlightened hero as well as the performative quality of appearing in our social media stories. I believe in the passion that brings people to the streets. I am concerned that the solidarity of a union is being lost in the desire for perfection.