Diana Cervantes

Visual Journalist

George Floyd and BLM Protests (NYC)

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NYPD officers stand in front of...al Court Building in Manhattan.

NYPD officers stand in front of an outraged crowd outside of The Criminal Court Building in Manhattan.

A protestor yells at a NYPD off...ng him her experience as a WOC.

A protestor yells at a NYPD officer telling him her experience as a WOC.

Flowers left by protestors in t...nd of a group of NYPD officers.

Flowers left by protestors in the foreground of a group of NYPD officers.

Protestors demanding change to ...Square and neighboring streets.

Protestors demanding change to the systemic killing of Black individuals as they march through Foley Square and neighboring streets.

Flowers left in memory of Georg...hich stand for Fuck the Police.

Flowers left in memory of George Floyd on a defaced building with the letters FTP, which stand for Fuck the Police.

Bystanders stand atop ...and Centre Street in Manhattan.

Bystanders stand atop defaced stairs as protestors continue to walk through White and Centre Street in Manhattan.

A protestor wipes tears from he...ll my friend!â€ moments prior.

A protestor wipes tears from her eyes as her friend is detained and taken by NYPD officers, yelling â€œDo not kill my friend!â€ moments prior.

A protestor holds out the names...Floyd Protest in New York City.

A protestor holds out the names of individuals he is demanding justice for during the George Floyd Protest in New York City.

Chaos erupts briefly as police ...hey soon made multiple arrests.

Chaos erupts briefly as police break up a barricade of people, pepper spraying and pushing people onto sidewalks, they soon made multiple arrests.

A protestor holds her first hig...near Foley Square in Manhattan.

A protestor holds her first high as the protest splits to three different streets near Foley Square in Manhattan.

May 31 marked the 4th day of pr... better world for his daughter.

May 31 marked the 4th day of protest in NYC as tensions remain high over the killing of George Floyd by police and police brutality towards the Black Community. Many protests occurred throughout NYC, with protests at Bryant Park and Brooklyn turning violent. SoHo was also looted late in the evening. Jemeil (last name withheld to respect his request), stands in front of riot police at Barclays Center in Downtown Brooklyn with an American flag that reads with George Floydâ€™s last words, â€œI CANâ€™T BREATHE.â€ Jemeil has suffered police brutality both and out of jail, and although his friends tell him he may be killed at protests he keeps going to attempt to create a better world for his daughter.

Protestors in Times Square take...arity with the Black Community.

Protestors in Times Square take a knee in respect and solidarity with the Black Community.

Joshua (last name withheld to r...e can grow up in a safer world.

Joshua (last name withheld to respect his request) holds his 8 month old daughter Luna as they stop by in support and solidarity of the protest as the march down Broadway. Joshua wanted to show his daughter what they are fighting for and hopes for a change so she can grow up in a safer world.

A mother and her children walk ...r his service to the community.

A mother and her children walk down with protestors in Manhattan as they speak to a police officer and thank him for his service to the community.

Cars are stopped at the base of...otestors make their way across.

Cars are stopped at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge on the Manhattan side as protestors make their way across.

Protestors walk across the Broo...dge on the evening of May 31st.

Protestors walk across the Brooklyn Bridge on the evening of May 31st.

NYPD riot police gather at Barc...ve between cops and protestors.

NYPD riot police gather at Barclays Center where the protest tension was high and later turned aggressive between cops and protestors.

NYPD charge at the crowd of pro...chaos to erupt with protestors.

NYPD charge at the crowd of protestors pushing them back as they rush toward a protestor and begin hitting him with batons, causing chaos to erupt with protestors.

â€¢NYPD charged at a couple and...peacefully move off the street.

â€¢NYPD charged at a couple and pushes them out of the way as the couple attempt to peacefully move off the street.

An anonymous mask sits on the s... decide what they will do next.

An anonymous mask sits on the sidewalk as police decide what they will do next.

The following images chronicle ...ughout NYC as unrest continues.

The following images chronicle the candlelight vigil held June 1st, at Astoria Park in remembrance and to honor the life of George Floyd, who was killed by Minneapolis police on May 25. People who attended lit candles, left flowers and words on the Astoria Park War Memorial. Many protests continue throughout the country and NYC has been given a curfew along with other cities across the nation. President Trump is considering using military action against protestors and multiple fires were set near the White House yesterday evening. Protests and candlelight vigils continue to be announced throughout NYC as unrest continues.

On June 4, a â€œBomba for Black...uring the hours of the curfew.

On June 4, a â€œBomba for Black Lives: A Boricua & Latinx Celebration of our African Rootsâ€ event was hosted by Bombayo, siemPResente, Mijente and many other organizations to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protest and uprisings happening throughout NYC. The dance celebration and act of solidarity was hosted at Union Square.

Bomba is a traditional dancing style of Puerto Rico with origins rooted in the islands history of slavery. Bombayo called the audience to dance as they felt compelled to because â€œBomba is something you feel,â€ as stated by the Bombayo band.

Earlier in the day a memorial for George Floyd was hosted at Cadman Plaza Park to honor Floydâ€™s life. His brother Terrence Floyd and some of the Floyd family members and friends were also in attendance.
Mayor Bill de Blasio also made it to the memorial but was not greeted warmly by New Yorkers, who screamed â€œvote him out!â€ and â€œfuck you!â€ As he made his way to the stage. Many New Yorkers are outraged at his leadership in regards to NYPD and the departmentâ€™s treatment of individuals throughout the protests and Black lives. Many NYPD officers have been captured on video abusing their power as citizens attempt to get home during the hours of
the curfew.

A community memorial was held S...after the cameras stop rolling.

A community memorial was held Saturday June 7, to remember the life of Malik Graves who was fatally shot and killed by NYPD on the evening of June 2 in Crown Heights.

Graves was accused of shooting another man who was treated and is recovering.
Officers say they pleaded with Graves for a minute before 10 officers opened fired killing him, saying the instance was caught on body cam footage.

The community and family disagree saying they donâ€™t believe the police account and are requesting the body cam footage, as protests continue nationwide in regards to the treatment of Black individuals at the hands of police.

The question of police brutality, abuse of power and killings of Black and POC continues, as many within these communities ask themselves whether White individuals would be met with the same brute force.
Mother of Graves said in an interview with news12 Brooklyn that She would have preferred for NYPD to have injured her son instead of killing him.
______
These images chronicle the community of Kingsborough Houses in Crown Heights as they not only commemorate the life of Graves but the lives of loved ones lost to police brutality. The memorial was hosted by
The Party for Socialism and Liberation in support of BLM.
During the memorial service I observed Quintin Fitz and his 17-month-old daughter Kassidy Fitz as they played while NYPD cars drove around the neighborhood.
This is the norm for neighborhoods of color.
The Black community will continue to live under hyper vigilance and live in danger of police brutality until major change can occur within systems.
These communities and families like the Fitzâ€™s will be long affected after all the protest signs are tucked away.
Now is not the time to ask the oppressive broken system for their â€œsideâ€ itâ€™s about showing the resilience of these families that continue to fight and create a sense of normalcy in their everyday lives where they are so often targets. Itâ€™s about hearing their stories and holding those in power accountable and as journalists itâ€™s our duty to continue documenting after the cameras stop rolling.

â€œThey tried to bury you, Geor...signing it into law this week.

â€œThey tried to bury you, George. They didnâ€™t know you were the seed that would start a Revolution. Rest in Power, brother.â€ -Unsigned.

Words like these were among the many posters, artwork, words, flowers, candles left by people on a tribute wall for George Floyd outside of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem on June 10.

The day before on June 9, George Floyd was laid to rest in Houston, Texas.

Protests that began in Minneapolis and spread throughout the nation have created change in NYC.

On Tuesday, New York Law Makers passed a bill to make police records more transparent. The repealing of the law known as section 50-a previously prevented the public from knowing officers disciplinary record. Governor Cuomo will be signing it into law this week.

June 19, at Grand Army Plaza a ...arassment from law enforcement.

June 19, at Grand Army Plaza a drum circle jamboree was held in celebration for Juneteenth led by drum group MNFST. All drummers in the community were encouraged to bring their instruments of buckets, drums and sticks. This was one of hundreds of celebrations for Juneteenth that occurred throughout NYC. MNFST shared that they perform in the subway and often face harassment from law enforcement.

On June 20, The East Coast Chap...ince the death of George Floyd.

On June 20, The East Coast Chapter of Black Surfing Association hosted a paddle out in support of Black Lives Matter at Rockaway beach. Surfers from all over the community joined the paddle out with chants of “Black Lives Matter!” rising over the sound of the ocean waves. Yesterday marked 24 days of continuous protests throughout NYC since the death of George Floyd.

Violinists from all over the co...rds to police are devastating).

Violinists from all over the community gathered at Washington Square Park to honor the life of Elijah McClain with a violin vigil. McClain was a victim of police brutality & died Aug. 30, 2019.

The vigil ended with violinists playing Ave Maria and a ten minute moment of silence. McClain was 23 years old at the time of his death and was known to play the violin for shelter kittens.

Violinist Sean Bennett organized and led the violin vigil and also read words from McClainâ€™s mother. Multiple violin vigils were held across the country with the vigil in Aurora, CO ending with individuals being pepper sprayed.

â€œAccording to The Cut, McClain's sister says he sometimes wore a ski/runner's mask because he was anemic and would often get cold. One night last August, he was walking home from the convenience store with his mask on when the police approached him, responding to a call about "a suspicious man" in the area. What ensued was "a struggle" according to police, which was only partially caught on body camera, as all of the officers' body cameras allegedly fell off during the incident.
McClain was held in a carotid hold, a controversial restraint technique banned in some cities for its potential danger, and was also given a shot of ketamine by paramedics. He had a heart attack on the way to the hospital and died there three days later, after having been declared brain dead.â€ (upworthy.com, â€œElijah McClain played violin for lonely kittens. His last words to police are devastating).

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Thumbnail of NYPD officers stand in front of _nal Court Building in Manhattan.

Thumbnail of A protestor yells at a NYPD offi_ing him her experience as a WOC.

Thumbnail of Flowers left by protestors in th_und of a group of NYPD officers.

Thumbnail of Protestors demanding change to t_ Square and neighboring streets.

Thumbnail of Flowers left in memory of George_which stand for Fuck the Police.

Thumbnail of Bystanders stand atop d_ and Centre Street in Manhattan.

Thumbnail of A protestor wipes tears from her_ill my friend!â€ moments prior.

Thumbnail of A protestor holds out the names _ Floyd Protest in New York City.

Thumbnail of Chaos erupts briefly as police b_they soon made multiple arrests.

Thumbnail of A protestor holds her first high_ near Foley Square in Manhattan.

Thumbnail of May 31 marked the 4th day of pro_a better world for his daughter.

Thumbnail of Protestors in Times Square take _darity with the Black Community.

Thumbnail of Joshua (last name withheld to re_he can grow up in a safer world.

Thumbnail of A mother and her children walk d_or his service to the community.

Thumbnail of Cars are stopped at the base of _rotestors make their way across.

Thumbnail of Protestors walk across the Brook_idge on the evening of May 31st.

Thumbnail of NYPD riot police gather at Barcl_ive between cops and protestors.

Thumbnail of NYPD charge at the crowd of prot_ chaos to erupt with protestors.

Thumbnail of â€¢NYPD charged at a couple and _ peacefully move off the street.

Thumbnail of An anonymous mask sits on the si_e decide what they will do next.

Thumbnail of The following images chronicle t_oughout NYC as unrest continues.

Thumbnail of George Floyd and BLM Protests (NYC)

Thumbnail of On June 4, a â€œBomba for Black _during the hours of the curfew.

Thumbnail of A community memorial was held Sa_ after the cameras stop rolling.

Thumbnail of â€œThey tried to bury you, Georg_ signing it into law this week.

Thumbnail of June 19, at Grand Army Plaza a d_harassment from law enforcement.

Thumbnail of On June 20, The East Coast Chapt_since the death of George Floyd.

Thumbnail of Violinists from all over the com_ords to police are devastating).

Public Project

George Floyd and BLM Protests (NYC)

Date of Work May 2020 - Ongoing

Updated Sep 2020

Location New York City

Topics Abuse, Activism, Black Lives Matter, Civil Rights, Confrontation, Discrimination, Documentary, Essays, Freedom, George Floyd Protest, Human Rights, Minority, NYC, NYPD, Photography, Photojournalism, Protest, Protests, Racism, Spotlight

On May 29, 2020 several protests broke out throughout New York City in regards to the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police. The officer who killed Mr. Floyd was charged with third degree murder as protests continue throughout the nation. May 29, marked the second day of protest in NYC.

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