Pack Square, Asheville, North Carolina, December 4, 2014

“I Can’t Breath!”

Across the United States, demonstrators took to the streets to express their outrage towards what they consider an ongoing streak of injustice in the U.S. criminal justice system. Coming off the heals of the Ferguson, Missouri grand jury decision to not indict police officer Darren Wilson for the fatal shooting of African-American male Michael Brown, crowds came together once more to express what many considered to be a miscarriage of justice when a New York grand jury failed to indict New York City 29 year old police officer Daniel Pantaleo for implementing a choke hold on 43 year old black male Eric Garner as he was being arrested for allegedly selling loose cigarettes.

Speech

Liberal Asheville, North Carolina is of course no exception to these demonstrations. Having just completed a gathering on Tuesday in response to the Ferguson trial, Ashevillians once again came together on Thursday evening at Pack Square in sympathy and support of those demonstrating against the recent New York decision.

There were of course numerous local news media covering this event. Journalist asking questions as participating organizers offer their response. Many people made very compelling and rousing speeches. There were also less people at this gathering than on Tuesday.

Pack Square

Getting over a cold, I walked through the crowd, periodically taking photographs. I listened to black men express their disgust of being harassed by police officers from having a broken tail light to any other minor misdemeanor that would be “just cause” to be pulled aside for being black in public. I watched young students scream out in frustration encouraging the crowd to participate in a communal chants of “Hands up..” and “I can’t breath!”. But I also sensed an unsure—dismay. Almost a realization that this is all cyclical, and that there is little hope of any real progress. Mind you, this is easy enough to understand as lately such events seem to be unending. One tends to measure current progress on an immediate and personally relative scale.

Badges don’t grant extra rights

But a number of underlying indicators did not escape me. When I shoot events like this, I look for the spiritual and human element—the one on one interaction and the individual set against the background of the bigger story.

I noticed a young black woman just at the edge of the crowd and began to take a few photos. Standing next to her was her friend. Immediately, the friend began to hide her face from my camera. The young woman followed her lead. After several clicks of the shutter, the young woman approached me and asked what I intend to do with the photos. This is not the first time I’ve been questioned by strangers when I capture their image, but this seemed different to me. I responded that I just use them for myself, for my blog—you have no reason to be afraid of me. She then asked for my name. I said, “My name is Joe.” She then reached out to shake my hand and said her name is “Star”. A few cordial words were exchanged, and I headed back into the crowd.

Star

Several young children running though the legs of the throng of adults caught my eye. Crouching low, I managed a few salvageable shots. That this gathering was bordering on family fare did not go unnoticed.

Dodging traffic to take a few crowd shots, I eventually crossed back over to the other side of the street and proceeded to head back to my car. On the way, I came across a police officer who was monitoring the peaceful demonstration from a distance.

Lone Officer

He greeted me and shook my hand saying, “I always see you downtown taking pictures.” I responded that I’m always here taking photos—even with this nasty cold. I then asked if it would be okay if I took a photo of him. He said,“It’s a free country!” I took a few shots, thanked him, and headed home. Now, call it my suspicious nature, but I’m sure I was no less suspect for attending the event as a photojournalist than any of the actual demonstrators. Still, where there were up to ten officers on hand for the Tuesday rally, there was just this one cop for the Thursday crowd.

You can sense a shift in consciousness, that violence as a response to violence serves no purpose. There is an emerging paradigm shift, and it’s been a long time coming.

Maybe it’s for us to really be a free country where you have no reason to be afraid.

Black Lives Matter

Playing

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There are several upcoming rallies in the planning. A “die in” rally is set for Saturday, Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. in front of the Buncombe County courthouse. A candle light vigil to remember Eric Garner and others will be held Sunday December 7 near the Vance Monument at Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville. The vigil begins at 5:30 p.m., and participants are asked to bring candles.

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All images © Joe Longobardi. All Rights Reserved.
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