killing the bill (hopefully)

This week has been absolutely awful in terms of news, and I’m too exhausted to articulate my thoughts in any depth, but here are some photos of the signs & people I saw at Sisters Uncut & Reclaim the Fight protests today. I am full of love & gratitude for everyone who showed up today. It’s so, so important to demonstrate that we will not be silenced that easily.

Update: One of my photos was included in an i-D photo feature in March, along with many others’ incredible work! While I was happy to be featured, it also made me feel uneasy, as I’d seen several people argue that protest photography is dangerous, as police can use photographs to identify protesters. I didn’t get any angry DM’s or anything like that following the feature, but it felt like an ethical dilemma to me, and still does. I don’t think there are clear-cut answers, but I do believe that while protest photography can cause harm, it is also an indispensable tool of political communication and an important grassroots art. Whoever holds a recording device has a responsibility to consider the balance of risks and benefits.

The concerns about protesters’ and organisers’ safety are valid, but shouldn't lead to a categorical designation of protest photography as unethical. I like taking photographs at protests (ones I would also participate in without a camera), because I believe they express some of the best parts of humanity. It's important to always proceed with caution and not publish photographs that seem risky for the people depicted. I would never take pictures of situations that are violent or seem to run the risk of legal trouble for protesters involved - which, if worst comes to worst, might even include peaceful protests, but currently does not. The authorities are using various kinds of recording and facial recognition tech, so even if nobody on the protestors’ side was documenting the movement, they would still be able to track participants down.

I feel it’s important to clarify that I'm aware of these issues and try to always use my best judgment in order to not violate anyone's consent and safety. At the same time, I think protest photography can be a way to create positive narratives in an environment that is often very hostile. Protesting is a human right, it is a natural activity, and we shouldn't have to be scared of it - but it's also important to be respectful & pragmatic about the risks involved, especially for organising parties.

After this weekend of protests, I’ve participated in several other demonstrations (as well as done arrestee support duty with Green and Black Cross), and felt that public & police attitudes are becoming increasingly hostile towards protestors (which, of course, is an intended consequence of the Bill). I am deeply worried that protesting is becoming more dangerous, and this has led me to further limit the protest photographs I publish while we wait for the re-evaluation of the Bill in Parliament. My worries were somewhat allayed by the lack of arrests at the May Day protests, but it remains clear that protest rights in the UK are being severely threatened, and we must continue mobilising to protect them. I am continuing to support the movement while taking care to respect the safety of those around me. Most importantly, we must always love and support each other. ❤️