Private Story
Road to Insurrection
The Trump years consisted of covering far-right groups like the Proud Boys, militias and Q-Anon conspiracy believers. The pandemic, recession, election, racial justice protests and conspiracy theories fueled tensions in the country that converged in what researchers call “a perfect storm” of mass radicalization and violence that played out over the four years but came to a crystalized point at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021.
First leg on my journey was Charlottesville the summer of 2017. I was one of the few female photojournalists to cover the tiki torch march. I was targeted by the marchers for being a woman and was called derisive terms. At Charlottesville, I saw the violence of the right wing but was introduced to the other side of the coin, Antifa who also tried to smash my camera. I did not “feel safe” on either side. I saw in real time the importance of staying impartial and not being seen as sympathetic to either side.
My journey continued and I covered several events in Portland both right wing and left wing protests. I went to several Trump rallies in my area and followed the activities of a large pro-Trump group active around New York City. The Trump supporters were super friendly up until the moment that Trump would call the media liars. Then, the people formerly telling you about their children, turn towards the press with their middle fingers up. But despite the taunts you still have to go. You have to document this particular moment of right wing ascendance.
By following the Trump movement, I knew the Stop the Steal rallies at the end of 2020 would be important to photograph. The Proud Boys had amassed the largest contingent I had ever seen. You could see how the movement was growing and getting more violent. The final chance of the movement would be on January 6, 2021, with the assault on the Capitol building by Trump supporters. I have never seen such violence before even after years of covering protests in NYC. It was scary to be in the middle of a sea of Trump supporters but, I’m glad I was one of the few women who documented that day. It’s important for women to document these violent events and not just men.
I feel that the pool of women who cover hardcore breaking news like that, is shrinking, even from a low level to begin with. I actively try to encourage other women to cover protests and am part or a larger network of women colleagues who I encourage on a regular basis. Even to be a woman photojournalist in New York City is courageous because there are so few of us.
Covering violent left wing and right wing protests may seem courageous but it doesn’t feel that way. I feel compelled to not look away. What I saw with the Trump years is that it started with violence – Charlottesville- and ended with Violence – January 6th Stop the Steal.
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