My aunt Katherine and uncle Freeman renewed their vows this past weekend. The couple celebrated 30 years of marriage. The service was beautiful and I am thankful to have captured the special occasion. Here is a sneak-peek into the ceremony.
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“Black Lives Matter,” “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot!,” and “No Justice, No Peace, No Racist A** Police,” were just some of the chants that protestors forcefully yelled as they marched down the streets of Atlanta, Friday, July 8. The Black Lives Matter rally, which was sponsored by the Georgia chapter National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, started with speeches from prominent members of the community at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Following the speeches, citizens by the hundreds blocked city streets in protest of the recent police involved shootings of two African American males. After returning to the museum, a group of hundreds of protestors broke off and headed toward the entrance of the interstate. Police met the protestors and stood their ground for hours.
Hundreds of people gathered at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights to protest against police brutality and racial inequality, Friday, July 8, 2016. The protest was organized by the Georgia chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Following a diverse group of speakers, the group marched around the city.
Francys Johnson, president of the Georgia chapter National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, speaks to the crowd of hundreds gathered at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Friday, July 8, 2016. “We are down here to talk about the truth,” Johnson said. “There is a culture that is corrupt in policing. And it doesn’t matter whether the police has a white face or a black place. It’s the system that’s the problem.”
Raised fists and skyscrapers reflect in a cheering protestors sunglasses during the planned event, Friday, July 8, 2016.
The crowd of hundreds of protestors react to a speaker during the gathering at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, July 8, 2016.
Protestors chant and carry signs down Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. during the planned rally, Friday, July 8, 2016.
Richard Jones, Atlanta Chapter president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, directs the protestors to go with the flow of traffic, during the march, Friday, July 8, 2016.
Javier, 12 (from left), Elijah, 11, Emanuel, 10, and Baruk, 13, hold their fists in the air as they walk down Peachtree street during the protest, July 8, 2016. The boys guardian said the boys were frustrated with the recent police involved shootings and instead of getting them involved in a negative way, he wanted them to channel their energy in a non violent way.
An Atlanta police department officer halts traffic on Portman Blvd. and watches as the crowd of protestors march down Peachtree street, July 8, 2016.
Maxwell Daniels watches the protestors move down Marietta street on the shoulders of his father, Titus, during the march, Friday, July 8, 2016. “It’s all about him knowing his history,” Titus said.
Poetess Sasha Wolf, pauses during her rendition of her poem, “Prostituted Minds,” that she recited to the crowd of protestors during the event, Friday, July 8, 2016.
As protestors began to march in the middle of traffic down Marietta street, Kashay Jones pulled her body through the sunroof and cheered along with the crowd, Friday, July 8, 2016.
Overcome with emotions, Colin Black, right, and Hadass Gerson, shed tears as protestors march down Marietta street during the rally, Friday, July 8, 2016.
Hundreds of protestors maneuver down Carnegie Way, chanting “Black Lives Matter,” and “No Justice, No Peace, No racist a** police,” Friday, July 8, 2016.
Gang members hold up their opposing colors in unity as the protestors took a rest in the middle of Baker street, Friday, July 8, 2016.
After diverting from the marked rally route through the city, a large group of protestors ended their march at the National Center of Civil and Human Rights, Friday, July 8, 2016.
Protestors jump over a fence as the marchers ended their route at the National Center of Civil and Human Rights, Friday, July 8, 2016. Administrators of the museum advised the group that they were no longer able to congregate at the establishment because it was private property. After a few minutes of negotiations, the administration gave the group of thousands permission to meet on the lawn adjacent to the building.
Georgia State Patrol troopers block the highway as thousands of protestors attempted to march on the interstate, Friday, July 8, 2016. Some protestors spoke calmly to the police officers while others shouted about their concerns of police brutality and the recent police involved shootings.
Two women walk, hands linked, at the front lines of the police blockade, Friday, July 8, 2016.
Protestors stand toe to toe with Georgia state troopers as they block the entrance to the interstate, Friday, July 8, 2016. Along with the Atlanta Police Department, the state troopers stood ready with zip ties, in case arrests needed to be made.
Georgia State Patrol troopers and Atlanta Police Department officers block the highway as thousands of protestors attempted to march on the interstate, Friday, July 8, 2016. Some protestors spoke calmly to the police officers while others shouted about their concerns of police brutality and the recent police involved shootings.
Protestors chant “Black lives matter” through a fence as a group of police officers blockade hundreds of protestors attempting to march on the interstate, Friday, July 8, 2016.
A protestor is confronted by a police officer as she attempted to walk toward the blocked crowd on the highway entrance, Friday, July 8, 2016.
An Atlanta Police Department helicopter flies above the police blockade, Friday, July 8, 2016. A crowd of hundreds of protestors started toward the interstate entrance and blocked the intersection for more than 6 hours.
Surrounded by a group of linked protestors, Michelle Hudson says a prayer for peace and the end to injustices, Friday, July 8, 2016.
Michael Johnson (the fifth) V, 12 (right), holds back his father, Michael Johnson Sr., 47, as he confronts an Atlanta Police officer during the protest, Friday, July 8, 2106.
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On a humid evening, hundreds of individuals march down Peachtree street, towards Piedmont Park, during a rally supporting Black Lives, Thursday, July 7, 2016. The protest was conceived by local Georgia activists following the police involved shooting deaths of Alton Sterling, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Philando Castile, in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. Both African American men were killed while onlookers used their camera phones to capture the encounter.
“I have chills,” Myrlaun Walker, 29, says while holding up her fist to greet protesters as they marched past her, down Peachtree street, Thursday, July 7, 2106. Walker said she wanted to support the march because she was “tired of being afraid for my little brother.”
Kevin Moann, 68, walks silently down Peachtree street, holding a handmade sign during the protest, Thursday, July 7, 2016.
While being blocked by the unannounced protestors marching down Peachtree street, Venus Finley, 36, encourages them to continue their journey, Thursday, July 7, 2016. “It needs to stop,” Finley said in response to the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. “We are speaking our piece. I love being black.”
Hundreds of protesters cross over the Peachtree street bridge, some chanting “It is our duty to fight for our freedom,” during the march to Piedmont Park, Thursday, July 7, 2016.
With her voice almost gone, Bri Carter asks the crowd of protestors, “Whose Streets?” and they respond forcefully, “Our Streets!” while marching down Peachtree street, Thursday, July 7, 2016.
Customers and employees of Big Peach Running Company watch the protestors as they walk down Peachtree street, Thursday, July 7, 2016. The marches drew both positive and puzzled reactions from pedestrians as they moved down toward Piedmont Park.
During a short rest, Leticia Cortes raises her fist in participation while the crowd chants, at the intersection of Juniper and 10th street, July 7, 2016.
Protestors cheer in excitement as the near 10th street, the intersection that will lead them to their final destination, Piedmont Park, Thursday, July 7, 2016.
“I wasn’t able to participate,” Anicka Austin, 28, says as she hands out water from her car on 10th street, July 7, 2016. With a strong desire to join her friends and contribute to the protest, Austin stopped by a local store and bought packages of water to hand out to the protestors.
Residents captured images and videos of the protestors marching on their cell phones during the event, July 7, 2016.
An Atlanta Police Department helicopter flies above the protestors as they gathered inside Piedmont Park, Thursday, July 7, 2016. A leading police escort for the march was not linked with the group until they reached 10th street.
During a moment of silence in Piedmont Park, Noema Milliman, 25, burns sage and sage incense, Thursday, July 7, 2016. Incense was burned, Milliman said, to bring peace to the crowd.
Hundreds gathered around Meadow path, which looks over “The Meadow” inside Piedmont Park, in order to listen and voice their thoughts on policing within the community, with a local and national perspective, Thursday, July 7, 2016.
Following the almost 3 mile march, protestors gathered in Piedmont Park to listen to speakers give their regards on issues they have had when dealing with police, Thursday, July 7, 2016.
Thursday evening, around 6:30 pm, a large group of people were gathering outside of Underground Atlanta to protest the recent officer involved shooting deaths of two African American males. Bystanders looked on across the street as a tall skinny African American man gave the growing crowd of more than 200 people directions on where to march. “We are a collective of activist groups in Atlanta,” said Morehouse student and member of #AUCShutItDown, Avery Jackson as the crowd listened. “We are not marching just to be marching, but we are marching to organize.” Jackson voiced his frustration with the lack of change that has been brought about from other recent protests. “This isn’t about just tonight, right? Because we’ve been here before,” he said. “This space is going to be an affirming space for all black people.” Following Jackson’s speech, the pumped up crowd of varying ages, religions, sexual orientation, and economic status, began their journey down Peachtree street. A group of designated marshalls, who were mostly white individuals, stepped in front of moving traffic in order for the protestors to “speak their peace.” The crowd chanted boisterously, “Whose Streets? Our Streets!,” “It is our duty to fight for our freedom,” and “Black Lives Matter,” as they journeyed toward Piedmont Park. Cars honked in solidarity and others blasted their horns in frustration. Patrons of businesses and residence along Peachtree street used their cell phones to capture the event. The march ended at Piedmont Park with words from varying individuals that spoke on police brutality and its effect on the community, both national and local.
