NYC Trayvon Martin Protest

[Phil_F_NM]

A few nights ago (April 10) I was in Manhattan, walking up Bowery, towards Astor
and just as I passed Cooper Square I saw more than ten vans from the
NYPD Tactical Response Unit speed through the intersection down St.
Mark's Pl. I ran up and found that a few hundred people were
marching down St. Mark's protesting against law enforcement dragging
its feet in the Trayvon Martin case. I followed them down St. Mark's
towards Tompkins Square and caught up with the front of the parade of
protesters.











After they went into the park they all quieted down and there was rumor
of a mass of arrests to be made. I didn't follow them further into the
park (I had to get home to medicate an ailing rabbit) but on my way
back west I saw a few protesters carrying their signs folded up and
heading away from Tompkins Square. I didn't hear about any injuries or
any further word on arrests.
This march occurred only a few hours before the formal charging and arrest of George Zimmerman.

Phil Forrest

[photo4ls]

The one thing that I'm hoping for is that they keep the protest
peaceful w/no violence.
Nelson

[ray*j*gun]

Zimmerman is charged with murder, that type of case takes time to develop esp with the FBI involved. I think we like to protest.

[jamesbf]

Cool shots. I would love to have been there to shoot too. NY streets are like no other.

[Al Patterson]

Nice work there, but I don't get why people in New York are protesting an event in Florida? Now I can get the protesters in Sanford Florida marching on police HQ, but it does appear that way too many New Yorkers have way too much time on their hands.

[Phil_F_NM]

I agree. This has the potential to become analogous to the 1992 Los Angeles riots depending upon how the case unfolds. Almost 20 years ago to the day. There is already a lot of angst built up across the nation with the economy and frequent protests from the Occupy movement galvanizing so many causes into one giant statement about injustice.
While I will not side either way in this particular case, as I'm not a juror nor have the evidence available to make a judgment, I do sincerely hope that Zimmerman gets a fair trial and regardless of the court's decision, the country can remain peaceful in their protests.

Phil Forrest

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by Al Patterson

Nice work there, but I don't get why people in New York are protesting an event in Florida? Now I can get the protesters in Sanford Florida marching on police HQ, but it does appear that way too many New Yorkers have way too much time on their hands.

Well, protesting is hip right now in NYC. Also, people come from all over to protest in NYC... it's not just people who live here.

Nothing wrong with having too much time on your hands... that sounds like a good thing to me.

[back alley]

keep it to photography folks...

[Mr_Toad]

Protesting is a great way to meet chicks!


Uh...at least...from what I recall from my protesting days.


And also a great way to take pictures! (...keeping it to photography and all.)

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by back alley

keep it to photography folks...

Sorry Joe ... I wonder if George Zimmerman was also a photographer as well as a marksman?

[Phil_F_NM]

Originally Posted by back alley

keep it to photography folks...

Sorry Joe, I didn't mean to make this into a political or racial discussion.

On another note, this is what can be done with the 21mm SA f/3.4 and a modest ISO of 800 on the M9. If I desaturate I'm sure I can get a few more of the images looking a lot better but I'm trying to collect a few more color shots for my portfolio to balance the overwhelming number of black and white images.
I hadn't intended on shooting a single digital image that day. I was carrying the M9 just in case some spot news came up. I DID get a few more images on Tri-X with my M4-P but those will have to wait until I get back to Philly.
I wish I could have gotten closer with that wide angle but I was ordered to move by police several times holding zip-tie cuffs. I've had to use those before and was cuffed with them in training back in the Navy. They are not comfy.

Phil Forrest

[Michael Markey]

It looks an attractive neighborhood.
Low evening light too.

[Phil_F_NM]

Originally Posted by ray*j*gun

I think we like to protest.

I agree. Living in west Philly this case actually gives me a little bit of concern considering some of the protests, flash mobs and many Philadelphians' distrust of law enforcement that has been an issue in the last few years.

Phil Forrest

[Pablito]

Originally Posted by back alley

keep it to photography folks...

It's already derailed. One very offensive post here, and a few others that come close.

EDIT: Thanks mods for removing offensive posts!

[Calzone]

Originally Posted by Phil_F_NM

Sorry Joe, I didn't mean to make this into a political or racial discussion.

On another note, this is what can be done with the 21mm SA f/3.4 and a modest ISO of 800 on the M9. If I desaturate I'm sure I can get a few more of the images looking a lot better but I'm trying to collect a few more color shots for my portfolio to balance the overwhelming number of black and white images.
I wish I could have gotten closer with that wide angle but I was ordered to move by police several times holding zip-tie cuffs. I've had to use those before and was cuffed with them in training back in the Navy. They are not comfy.

Phil Forrest

I like my 28 Cron for a wide in NYC.

I generally avoid mob scenes, especially when volitility and emotions can easily erupt and get out of hand (both police and protestors).

Experienced a bad situation where police in riot gear exerted brutal force clubbing innocent bystanders because they had to display a show of force to establish/restore order because they were severely outnumbered when they surrounded and suddenly stormed a crowd.

Anyways a picture is not worth getting my head caved in or getting arrested. Came too close to a brain injury, and almost got arrested a few times though...

Cal

[kuvvy]

Phil a couple of weeks back here in Manchester, UK I came across some Trayvon Martin protestors. Nothing on the scale of yours, just a handful, but I took some shots, shown here, all with Fuji X100.

[Michael Markey]

That photog in the background in the second shot is always out covering protests in Manchester.
I wonder who he is.

[Jobin]

Yeah some great shots here. Makes me miss my m8.

[kuvvy]

Not sure Mike, he was shooting video when I was there.

[Sparrow]

... that first photo has real class, those eyes really make it work for me

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by Michael Markey

That photog in the background in the second shot is always out covering protests in Manchester.
I wonder who he is.

I have photos of him too I think

[Michael Markey]

Two or three DSLRs always seemingly with whatever protest is going on ... I`ll ask him next time.

[Bob Michaels]

Sanford is 12 miles from me. My mom was from there. But I had not photographed anything there as it did not fit into what I was doing. But when they marched in nearby South Apopka, a community I have been documenting for about 7 years, I did attend and photograph. I know many of the people in these photos.

[benmacphoto]

Went to one of the protest last month when Trayvon's parents were in Union square.

[TennesseJones]

Interesting pictures and story, many thanks for sharing.

I'm completely treasuring the unexpected phrase 'I had to get home to medicate an ailing rabbit'...