Protest at Klan rally

T

Todd.Hanz

Guest
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:
 
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
 
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
 
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
 
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.
 
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...
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
backalley photo said:
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
Click to expand...

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!
 
mtokue said:
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.
Click to expand...

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
 
Todd.Hanz said:
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
Click to expand...

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.
 
JoeFriday said:
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
Click to expand...
Free Speech and Family Values:D (sorry, couldn't resist -- I'll behave better after my coffee)
 
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)
 
Frank, I have some I'm sure...just gotta develop them and I just ran out of fixer...arrrgh! :(

Todd
 
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