When the protests were announced I knew I wanted to be there. Like so many, as a human I wanted to stand up for those who are continuously pushed down. As a photographer I wanted to document these times. I had read on many social media feeds that photographs should not be taken and shared so that those in attendance could not have their presence used against them later on. I understood the ramifications of identification. I kept that in mind as I approached the first protest I attended. I was one among a hundred journalists and photographers actively documenting what was happening. I watched young people live streaming themselves and our surroundings. As I walked through crowds, people were asking to have their photographs taken and wanted to know where they could be viewed later. The women above were some of those who explicitly asked for me to photograph them. They were excited to be a part of such a momentous movement. I made the choice to share the images to show that not every protest ended in violence and that people could stand together for something bigger than themselves. With that said, if you see an image of yourself at a protest and would like it removed please contact me. I'll be happy to oblige. From protest to protest I witnessed people, young and old, passionate about the injustices done to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, Botham Jean, Philando Castille, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, and the list goes on...

The lives of black humans matter. Always.