Brilio.net/en - Its the image that has been seen around the world, and is no doubt going down in history as the single most powerful image of the Black Lives Matter Movement in the United States.
Demonstrations have taken place from coast to coast in the US after policemen brutally and unjustly murdered two black men. Alton Sterling can be seen in the video being held down by two policemen and subsequently shot. According to the police, they had received a report that an armed man was making threats. Philando Castille was shot by officers at a minor traffic stop, in front of his young daughter and wife, who recorded the slating on her phone. The video has since gone viral, and reignited the Black Lives Matter Movement.
While the protests have been mainly peaceful, it seems as if police are anticipating riots. This particular photograph was taken in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where Sterling was shot by police. Thousands of photos have circulated on the internet, but this particular one stands out. The peaceful protester Ieshia Evans, with her black and white dress flowing gently in the wind, is being aggressively approached by two policemen who are dressed as if they are ready for armed combat in the Middle East, rather than a peaceful protest. They approach her hurriedly and full of fear as she stands still, a pillar of utter calmness. Her sheer power appears to be knocking the armed officers off their heels as they rush to detain her.
The photo that has rocked the Internet was taken by Jonathan Bachman, a New Orleans-based photographer who has been working for Reuters in the past few days.
He told the BBC: The police were called out to clear Airline Highway where demonstrators had blocked the road... They managed to get most of the protesters off to the side. I looked over my right shoulder and saw the woman step onto the road. She was making her stand. She said nothing and was not moving. It was clear that the police were going to have to detain her."
Ms Evans took to Facebook to respond to the media uproar, noting that she was "alive and safe" She continued on: "I appreciate the well wishes and love, but this is the work of God. I am a vessel!"
(brl/red)
