Protest at Klan rally

[Todd.Hanz]

I went to a demonstration outside a Klan (KKK) rally yesterday. M3, M4-P and 8 rolls of Tri-X later it was over. The New Black Panthers, Nation of Islam, and a few other groups showed up to lend a voice to the crowd and march the streets. I have only developed two of the eight rolls, here a a few:

[back alley]

very gutsy mr h!

love that second shot.

joe

[Todd.Hanz]

Tensions were pretty high for a while, I used my 28 Ultron for most of the shots, people didn't seem to mind it as much as the DSLR's the press was poking in their faces.

Todd

[back alley]

i'm starting to think that people (at some level) prefer to be photographed from up close by someone they can touch if they so choose as compared to someone skulking about with a long lens like some poacher.

joe

[Todd.Hanz]

Yes, I think the "New Black Panthers" are more law abiding when compared to the '60's and 70's version, more of a presence.

Todd

[dominicLF]

These are really interesting shots, Todd. I hope you post more when they are developed. I find people less threatened by quirky "old style" cameras in general. It is hard to identify a fifty-year-old rangefinder with the new surveillance technology and the culture of surveillance that has so many people freaked out, even though the old camera do basically the same thing.

[Max Power]

Hat's off to you Todd!
Even though I'm certain that the demonstration you documented was peaceful in nature, sometimes they can go awry fast...You really captured the essence of the demonstration.

What I particularly enjoy is the juxtaposition of the first photograph with the second. The second is beautiful insofar as you have captured the seriousness of the situation and the demonstration; the look on the young man's face really captures this. The first image focuses the duality of how the KKK and others of this ilk are perceived in many instances; little more than an anachronistic joke.

So, it seems to me that you have captured both sides of racism and racist organisations and how they are perceived; they are as dangerous in their convictions and venom as they are in the sheer absurdity of their convictions in this era.

Thanks for some really brilliant photojournalism

Kent,

P.S. The use of B&W really lends itself to this type of demonstration because in the photographs of the 50's and 60's, this was the medium; it shows a sort of continuance...

[Skinny McGee]

Man Todd,

I love this type of photography I takes guts to get up in the face of someone who is not happy about the day anyway.. I should be called "smash mouth photography.".. because you are always taking that chance of getting smashed in the mouth and your close enough that it can happen easy... Great job.

[FrankS]

Great work. You da man, Todd!

[Todd.Hanz]

It was very peaceful when compared to other demonstrations you see on TV, it seems very few demonstrations here in the states escalate to the levels you see in other areas. There wasn't any need for tear gas or rubber bullets but the police were suited up in full riot gear anyway. All in all it was very interesting to watch the groups come and go, the Klan never showed it's face (hoods) and were escorted from the city on police busses much to the dismay of the protestors.
Thanks for the comments.

Todd

[peter_n]

Great job Todd especially with the 28mm. Man you were really close with that lens! :eek:

[mtokue]

Wow I didn't think that that sort of thing was still going on... I mean I would have imagined that you'd get sued by someone if you admitted to being a member of any group that wasn't "PC"...Just ignorance on my part I guess.
Nice powerfull images.
Mike.

[JoeFriday]

i'm starting to think that people (at some level) prefer to be photographed from up close by someone they can touch if they so choose as compared to someone skulking about with a long lens like some poacher.

joe

I agree with Joe.. I think a close proximity builds rapport in some way with the subjects.. sort of a mutual respect, that you're a person who wants to be included in the photo process, rather than standing on the sidelines 'poaching' as Joe said

excellent shots, Todd!

[Allen Gilman]

Good shots Todd - can't wait to see the rest!

[JoeFriday]

Wow I didn't think that that sort of thing was still going on... I mean I would have imagined that you'd get sued by someone if you admitted to being a member of any group that wasn't "PC"...Just ignorance on my part I guess.
Nice powerfull images.
Mike.

Mike, we're a firm believer in free speech in the US.. being a member of certain groups like the KKK is definitely frowned upon, but it doesn't seem to have hurt a few people.. Senator Robert Byrd, for instance

[Honu-Hugger]

It was very peaceful when compared to other demonstrations you see on TV, it seems very few demonstrations here in the states escalate to the levels you see in other areas. There wasn't any need for tear gas or rubber bullets but the police were suited up in full riot gear anyway. All in all it was very interesting to watch the groups come and go, the Klan never showed it's face (hoods) and were escorted from the city on police busses much to the dismay of the protestors.
Thanks for the comments.

Todd

Nice work, Todd. Glad you were there getting the shots that you did. How many of the Klan in attendance? I thought they had faded away long ago.

[Honu-Hugger]

Mike, we're a firm believer in free speech in the US.. being a member of certain groups like the KKK is definitely frowned upon, but it doesn't seem to have hurt a few people.. Senator Robert Byrd, for instance
Free Speech and Family Values:D (sorry, couldn't resist -- I'll behave better after my coffee)

[FrankS]

Any shots of the police in riot gear, Todd?

[Jan Cornelius]

Nice series .... to me, being a European and living in Europe it's hard to imagine that the KKK is still "alive" Even harder to imagine that it's condoned (shere ignorance on my part btw)

[Todd.Hanz]

Frank, I have some I'm sure...just gotta develop them and I just ran out of fixer...arrrgh! :(

Todd

[cp_ste.croix]

Photo 2 is an amazing shot, reminiscint of the photography that got me interested in the art in the first place...great work.

did you ask the young man if you could take his pic or did you just fire away?

[Solinar]

I'm sure that the local residents in Tomball weren't happy campers. Where was Klan, in front of the courthouse?

[Solinar]

Yep, the 2nd photo showing the Nation of Islam border guard between you and the speaker is very nicely done.

[l.mar]

"Nice series .... to me, being a European and living in Europe it's hard to imagine that the KKK is still "alive" Even harder to imagine that it's condoned (shere ignorance on my part btw)"

Jan Cornelius

I wouldn't actually use the term "condoned."

[Solinar]

They are not "condoned", but their right to free speech is protected.

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Todd, excellent shots.

I think the fact that you weren't using a long lens didn't make you look like a Fed or the press there to shoot a one sided account of the event. Ah, the power of the rangefinder.

I think the Nation of Islam and the "new" Black Panthers are more approachable than the KKK. They want their message to be heard and understood. This isn't all that new. I think it's more that there is less of the inflamatory rhetoric than there had been in the 60's and 70's.

I can't wait to see more.

[Todd.Hanz]

Right Solinar, and the residents were not happy to say the least. People rallied around the Black Panthers and the other groups, but those guys ain't exactly boy scouts either (if you know what I mean).

[Honu-Hugger]

It's good that it is legal for these groups to organize as opposed to being "legislated" out of existence, which would only drive them underground. A sign of true progress will occur when they all disband out of a lack of interest :)

[Nick R.]

First thing I thought when I clicked on the first photo was that it's good to see so many young people involved, which means that I wasn't thinking "what a nice photo." That's the essence of a good news photography. Good job.

[Fedzilla_Bob]

... People rallied around the Black Panthers and the other groups, but those guys ain't exactly boy scouts either (if you know what I mean).

Nope they definitely aren't. Some of the latest rhetoric isn't any less bigotted or reactionary than that of the Klan. Both sides are born of racial or religious mistrust. Both sides point across the line and blame the other. Both spout the rhetoric of intolerance. What is interesting is that both sides have attenuated their stance to make themselves seem more legit.

I don't know if this remains true, but The Nation of Islam and the Black Panther Party had been listed by the US Government as violent radicals. Along with Green Peace. While The KKK and American Nazis were not.

I like that you have gone out to capture the event from your POV. And now, people all over the world can see through your eyes.

[Todd.Hanz]

here's a few more.....

the old guy with the dog is a resident taking it all in, the other guy is holding up an effigy of a black man hanging with a rope.

Todd

[Grumblepunk]

Todd...wow. You have amazing talent and you show us this with every photo. That second image of the first set is just heavy. That is the kind of shot that will make years of shooting worth it. I'm envious. :D

You are also talking me in to a 28mm. I had no idea that they could work so closely, without epic distortion. Ignorance from lack of use, I am guessing. I need to try one, now.

[Peter]

Excellent documentary shots! You are the man! :)

[varjag]

Great shoot Todd! My respect.

[shaaktiman]

Why is that so hard for a European to understand Jan? I just read an article (a few months ago) about the resurgance of Neo-Nazi-ism in swaths of Germany and France. Not to mention the recent election where Le Pen was in a direct runoff against Chirac. (Not that Le Pen is a Nazi, but still...)

Ignorance and racism persist everywhere. People are just more comfortable with the devil they know I guess. I mean, the Klan are just white trash hicks... but the thought of Nazis makes my blood run cold.

[Todd.Hanz]

Hey:)

Came across THESE (http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23811) over at tpf. Pretty weak compared with Todd's, I think.

ManGo

Thanks MagGo,
I saw her, and funny thing is I'm in few of her pics, my brother is in several others (he was using a video recorder). If you had a press pass you had a few more opportunities, I managed to follow a few other PJ's into some areas but when asked for credentials I was turned away, should have said I shoot for "Rangefinder Forum" or something (Jorge' can I get a badge or something :) ).
It was an adrenaline rush that day, I pretty much threw caution to the wind and got as close as I wanted and where I wanted.

BTW, now that I'm here at work viewing the pics on a PC (I use a MAC at home) I realize that they are very dark, I'll have to fix that.

Thanks for all the comments!

Todd

[kiev4a]

Nice series .... to me, being a European and living in Europe it's hard to imagine that the KKK is still "alive" Even harder to imagine that it's condoned (shere ignorance on my part btw)


The European perspective is interesting. One of the difference is that in the U.S. people tend to believe it's better to allow such groups to operate in public where it is easier to keep tabs on them than to drive them underground.

I was in Europe in the early 80s' and a lot of people were quite outspoken in their criticism of the influx of "foreign" emigrants to their countries. From what I have read, that resentment seems to be growing in a lot of areas. Meanwhile, some of the same people criticize the U.S. for allowing some lunic fringe groups like the KKK to continue to operate. A little hypocritical, I believe.

[FrankS]

I'm glad Todd's pictures were not taken in Canada, for a couple of reasons, one of them being that he would have won our little "Slice of Life in Canada" competition hands down!

[titrisol]

Neither did I, but just a few days ago there were burning crosses in a town close to where I live.
Just this time it was in Latino neighborhoods

Nice series .... to me, being a European and living in Europe it's hard to imagine that the KKK is still "alive" Even harder to imagine that it's condoned (shere ignorance on my part btw)

I'm latino, and very proud of it, and find that in Europe the hatred to the foreigners/different-skin is even worse than in the US because it is mixed with arrogance.
A lot of my country-mates emigrated to the european union, and they are segregated a lot. They went there because they were offered jobs nobody else would take and they were trying to secure the future of the next generation, they do their job and after a few years of taking &^%^& they get fed-up of that slavery and come back to enjoy their earnings.

I have this project in my mind, one day I'll do it to go to Spain and document "Madrid en lo ojos de un sudaca"

[nikonosguy]

todd...

i saw this thread and have a similar rally coming soon in my town...

i am inspired to try the same thing --- possibly konica hexar af and maybe another camera

[SlappyPeterson]

The KKK still exists and still has rallies? Wow, I must live under a rock. Twisted.

[literiter]

Where are the images?
The OP posted the pictures in 2005. I guess they are deleted.

[nikon_sam]

The KKK still exists and still has rallies? Wow, I must live under a rock. Twisted.

There was one a few years ago in Claremont, CA and since it was just a few miles away I attended, took several cameras and shot off several rolls...
In attendance was one Jeff Hall (local KKK leader who later was killed by his own son) I've got some shots of him but haven't printed any and don't think I ever will...
I was able to get pretty close to the protesters and was wanting to talk to a few since I am of Hispanic decent...I was curious if they hated me simply because I have dark skin...born and raised in So. California, English is my only language and hung out with the Surfer dudes in school, so I'm pretty much a dark skinned white guy...but I think they would still hate me..

[rhl-oregon]

Sam, I think hate is what they have--and hate comes out of fear, like a fire feeds on oxygen. And all fear/hate can do as fire is heat up and cook their prejudices and cherished delusions, and threaten to burn up everything else

But for many people, the only real fear is fear of separation, of being left alone, untouched, abandoned, misunderstood. If we accept that this fear is still like oxygen, then love is the miracle of water.

The haters will burn up in their own bad time. Let's focus on the young ones whose fear may be quenched, and who may yet understand that the water of life is for all.

[nikon_sam]

Sam, I think hate is what they have--and hate comes out of fear, like a fire feeds on oxygen. And all fear/hate can do as fire is heat up and cook their prejudices and cherished delusions, and threaten to burn up everything else

But for many people, the only real fear is fear of separation, of being left alone, untouched, abandoned, misunderstood. If we accept that this fear is still like oxygen, then love is the miracle of water.

The haters will burn up in their own bad time. Let's focus on the young ones whose fear may be quenched, and who may yet understand that the water of life is for all.



Robert,
I think that's why I wanted to talked with them...to show them that I am just another human being like them and to ease any fears as to what a person that looks the way I do might be all about...I know whatever I say may not change any attitudes but at least they might think a little bit more before judging someone based only on their outer appearances...