BEHIND THE POLICE

It was a Tuesday afternoon at high noon when people started to assemble. It was the fourth straight day of protesting in early June. Today's location was Hollywood, CA. A very iconic place filled with gift shops and memorabilia. My friend and I who is black (his color is important for later) wanted to document these occasions since we are both content creators. We had not met up yet when I saw the people started to assemble so I found the nearest side street to whip out the drone and get it in the air.

Hollywood BLVD at noon.

As time went on throughout the day we had stopped to interview a few people and ask them some questions about how they felt about the current situation. Here's what one of them had to say.

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As the day progresses peacefully everything changed at 2:30. Everyone is greeted with a loud BANG. A group of instigators set off fireworks at the peaceful protests. I'm sure you can guess what color they were. The police start launching tear gas to confine the crowd into one section. This is a standoff...

FORMING THE BARRICADE

NO WAY OUT

As the police start pushing protestors north I land my drone and whip out my camera and head towards the police. My friend stays where he is while he still flies his drone. I have my "media badge" around my neck and a cop shouts to me and a few others "any media needs to be behind the police barrier." So I quickly seize the opportunity and fall behind at least 30 police as they start to force the protestors north as shown below.

THE VIEW FROM BEHIND THE BARRICADE

As I am walking behind the barricade I hear three words repeated. "MARCH, HALT, DON'T ENGAGE." The energy and vibes I got from behind the barricade were not aggressive like the media makes it out to be. There were police of all different races, ages, and genders and the policeman who was making sure the media was not interfering did not come across as hostile. With that being said the system is still broken and change needs to happen.

I get my partner on the phone and tell him he needs to go to the next block and join me. He tries to get in three times with his "media badge" but no one will let him in. Three police brush him off and don't let him behind the barrier to join me. Again, my friend is black. After the police reach Yucca street there is a brief but non hostile standoff between protestors and the police. After about a minute something happens that causes everyone to clap and the protests disperse.