Lucian Perkins

Photographer/Filmmaker

DC: City of Protests

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Location: Washington, DC

Nationality: USA

Biography: Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Lucian Perkins is an independent photographer and filmmaker based in Washington, D.C. Lucianâ€™s focus on documenting human-interest stories encompasses daily life and social issues... MORE

Several years ago, I received a... Here are some of my favorites:

Several years ago, I received an email from a woman who said she was in a front-page Washington Post photograph I had made way back in October 1979. It was the first-ever National Gay Rights march. I had no memory of covering it, so I looked through the newspaper archives. Sure enough, there it was. Sadly, neither I nor the WP had that photograph any longer: It was among a room full of binders, each full of negatives, lost by workers who accidentally and carelessly cleared them out. They represented years of history. Images like this became more important to history and this woman over time. I could only offer her a poorly reproduced Xerox from the archives. But I have other images from more recent years. Here are some of my favorites:

Occupy D.C. protestors resist U...hington, DC., February 4, 2012.

Occupy D.C. protestors resist U.S. Park Police clearing out areas of McPherson Square which the protestors have been occupying and living for the last three months. Washington, DC., February 4, 2012.

The Million Man March: &ldq...shington, DC., October 17, 1995

The Million Man March: “That probably was one of the largest demonstrations of Black men that had ever been done in terms of the United States,” Martin Luther King, III told CNN. “So when you think about the fact that Black men were brought together with a focus on bringing families together, assuming appropriate responsibilities, that was extremely significant." National Mall, Washington, DC., October 17, 1995

The National Mall is jammed wit...ashington, DC, October 17, 1995

The National Mall is jammed with possibly a million Black men and others for Louis Farrakhan's call for a march on Washington. Washington, DC, October 17, 1995

As President Bush makes a push ...shington, DC, September 9, 2002

As President Bush makes a push to go to war with Iraq, demonstrators end a weekend of protests with a peaceful march through DC. Washington, DC, September 9, 2002

DC Police briefly detained prot...hington, DC, September 29, 2001

DC Police briefly detained protestors at 18th and M streets as they protested meetings at the World Bank and IMF. Police released the marchers but escorted them as they walked through the city. Washington, DC, September 29, 2001

A demonstrator who would only i...ashington, DC. January 18, 2003

A demonstrator who would only identify himself as "Uncle Scam" revs up some of the thousands of protestors on the Mall to demonstrate against the seemingly inevitable warming to Iraq. Washington, DC. January 18, 2003

World Bank protestors are backe...hington, DC, September 28, 2002

World Bank protestors are backed into a corner and trapped by riot police who surrounded them in Pershing Park and arrested them. Here, one protestor talks on his cell phone, and another holds up a sign asking for help as they await to be handcuffed and arrested. Later protesters sued over what was later to be determined illegal “trap and detain” tactics in which officers surrounded and arrested large groups of people close to demonstrations.to be arrested. The various lawsuits won over $13.25 million. Washington, DC, September 28, 2002

Tens of thousands of Antiwar de...ashington, DC. January 18, 2003

Tens of thousands of Antiwar demonstrators jam the National Mall to protest the threat of war in Iraq. Washington, DC. January 18, 2003

Student protestors lock arm in ...ashington, DC, January 19, 2003

Student protestors lock arm in arm after police prevented them from entering Lafayette Park . The protestors were eventually able to get closer, but some were arrested after they attempted to enter the park again. Washington, DC, January 19, 2003

A student protestor is tossed a...ashington, DC, January 19, 2003

A student protestor is tossed around and arrested after he and others try to rush through a police line at Lafayette Park across the street from the White House during a protest against the future war in Iraq. Washington, DC, January 19, 2003

Paul Brailsford (87) (left) and...ashington, DC. January 18, 2003

Paul Brailsford (87) (left) and Ed Hart (81), both WWII veterans, join the thousands of antiwar demonstrators on the Mall who are protesting the upcoming war in Iraq. Washington, DC. January 18, 2003

Protesters are tear-gassed whil...Washington, DC January 20, 2004

Protesters are tear-gassed while trying to get into the inaugural parade route during President George W. Bush's second inauguration. Washington, DC January 20, 2004

Protestors keep vigil outside o...ashington, DC, January 30, 2012

Protestors keep vigil outside of the "Tent of Dreams" at McPherson Park. Occupy DC protestors covered the statue of General James B. McPherson on the square they are occupying after the National Park Police declared that they would start to enforce long-standing regulations prohibiting camping on federal parkland. The Park Police had given the protestors latitude in the past but were responding to pressure by congressional Republicans to enforce the ban. Under the rules, the Occupiers can stand vigil in the park 24 hours a day and can keep their tents, but they can’t sleep there. No bedding inside the tents is permitted, and they must be kept open for inspection. After Occupy D.C. put up the blue tarp, dubbed "Tent of Dreams," on Monday, many protesters held vigil throughout the night expecting a raid by the Park Police, which hasn't materialized. Washington, DC, January 30, 2012

Angry Occupy D.C. protestors co...ashington, DC, December 4, 2011

Angry Occupy D.C. protestors confront U.S. Park Police, who are preparing to cordon off a wooden structure the demonstrators erected overnight. Summary: OccupyD.C.’s overnight construction of a large wooden structure in McPherson Square ended two months of relatively peaceful coexistence with the U.S. Park Police, who said that the building appeared to be a permanent structure and was, therefore, illegal. Occupy D.C. said they were building it to protect themselves from increasingly cold weather. Protesters defied repeated orders to abandon the building and take it down — setting the stage for a day-long standoff — which ended in 31 arrests and the destruction of the building by the Park Police. Washington, DC, December 4, 2011

DC protestors succeeded in putt...ashington, DC, January 30, 2012

DC protestors succeeded in putting a tarp over the Statue of General James B. Mcpherson, which they dubbed the "Tent of Dreams." Occupy DC protestors covered the statue after the National Park Police declared they would start enforcing long-standing regulations prohibiting camping on federal parkland. Many protesters held vigil throughout the night expecting a raid by the Park Police, which so far hasn't materialized. Washington, DC, January 30, 2012

Caption: U.S. Park Police arres...ashington, DC, December 4, 2011

Caption: U.S. Park Police arrest protestors who broke through the police line in an effort to join fellow Occupy D.C. protestors barricaded in a wooden structure they erected in McPherson Square. Occupy D.C. said they were building it to protect themselves from increasingly cold weather. Protesters defied repeated orders to abandon the building and take it down — setting the stage for a day-long standoff — which ended in 31 arrests and the destruction of the building by the Park Police. Washington, DC, December 4, 2011

After being evicted from McPher...shington, DC, February 4, 2012.

After being evicted from McPherson Square, DC Occupiers were pushed out into the street where they stood in a cold drizzle. Here an angry protestor flashes the finger at a U.S. Park Police officer barricading the park. Washington, DC, February 4, 2012.

Protestors in front of the Whit...s. Washington, DC. July 4, 2020

Protestors in front of the White House react to a military flyover President Trump ordered as part of July 4 celebrations. Washington, DC. July 4, 2020

Chanting four more years, some ...shington, DC, November 14, 2020

Chanting four more years, some ten thousand Trump supporters took to Washington, DC streets to claim Trump won the election. Here, they confront a small group of counter-demonstrators. Far-right groups like the Proud Boys and speakers like Alex Jones energized the crowd. Washington, DC, November 14, 2020

Trump supporters filled the are...n. Washington, DC. July 4, 2020

Trump supporters filled the area in front of the Lincoln Memorial to see a special 4th of July program provided by the Trump administration. Washington, DC. July 4, 2020

More than 10,000 people poured ...n. Washington, DC, June 6, 2020

More than 10,000 people poured into the nation’s capital on the ninth day of protests over police brutality throughout the country in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of policemen. Washington, DC, June 6, 2020

Crowds swelled at the White Hou...ashington, DC, November 7, 2020

Crowds swelled at the White House after Biden was declared the winner of the Presidential elections. Washington, DC, November 7, 2020

Trump supporters storm the U.S.... Washington, DC-January 6, 2021

Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol after listening to his incendiary earlier in the day at the White House. Washington, DC-January 6, 2021

Days before Biden's ina...Wahington, DC, January 15, 2021

Days before Biden's inauguration, cleanup is still underway after it was overrun by Trump supporters, who had hoped to stop the election process. Wahington, DC, January 15, 2021

"There's No American History Without Black History.”

Sixty years later, thousands gathered at the Lincoln Memorial to reflect on and celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Washington, DC, August 26, 2023

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Thumbnail of Several years ago, I received an_. Here are some of my favorites:

Thumbnail of Occupy D.C. protestors resist U._shington, DC., February 4, 2012.

Thumbnail of The Million Man March: &ldqu_ashington, DC., October 17, 1995

Thumbnail of The National Mall is jammed with_Washington, DC, October 17, 1995

Thumbnail of As President Bush makes a push t_ashington, DC, September 9, 2002

Thumbnail of DC Police briefly detained prote_shington, DC, September 29, 2001

Thumbnail of A demonstrator who would only id_Washington, DC. January 18, 2003

Thumbnail of World Bank protestors are backed_shington, DC, September 28, 2002

Thumbnail of Tens of thousands of Antiwar dem_Washington, DC. January 18, 2003

Thumbnail of Student protestors lock arm in a_Washington, DC, January 19, 2003

Thumbnail of A student protestor is tossed ar_Washington, DC, January 19, 2003

Thumbnail of Paul Brailsford (87) (left) and _Washington, DC. January 18, 2003

Thumbnail of Protesters are tear-gassed while_ Washington, DC January 20, 2004

Thumbnail of Protestors keep vigil outside of_Washington, DC, January 30, 2012

Thumbnail of Angry Occupy D.C. protestors con_Washington, DC, December 4, 2011

Thumbnail of DC protestors succeeded in putti_Washington, DC, January 30, 2012

Thumbnail of Caption: U.S. Park Police arrest_Washington, DC, December 4, 2011

Thumbnail of After being evicted from McPhers_ashington, DC, February 4, 2012.

Thumbnail of Protestors in front of the White_ns. Washington, DC. July 4, 2020

Thumbnail of Chanting four more years, some t_ashington, DC, November 14, 2020

Thumbnail of Trump supporters filled the area_on. Washington, DC. July 4, 2020

Thumbnail of More than 10,000 people poured i_en. Washington, DC, June 6, 2020

Thumbnail of Crowds swelled at the White Hous_Washington, DC, November 7, 2020

Thumbnail of Trump supporters storm the U.S. _. Washington, DC-January 6, 2021

Thumbnail of Days before Biden's inau_ Wahington, DC, January 15, 2021

Thumbnail of "There's No Am_, DC, August 26, 2023

Private Story

DC: City of Protests

Copyright Lucian Perkins 2024

Updated Sep 2023

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Like most photojournalists based in Washington, DC, I've covered more demonstrations and protests than I can remember, as evidenced by the first photo story. I can't tell you how many times I've stood or marched for hours in the hot sun or rain, been tear-gassed, clubbed, and jostled by all sides. Here are some of my favorite images:

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