Renée Deemer

Photographer

reneedeemer.com

40 Days

Marching for 40 days straight can result in sore feet, dehydration and doubts, but also a renewed sense of community, self-reflection, and maybe most importantly, a sense of purpose and social change.

The murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020 sparked a new round of outrage and demonstrations across the country and world, demanding accountability for police brutality against people of color.

In Syracuse, New York, a new and nimble grassroots social justice group formed within days to create a visible and vocal presence with the goal to march for racial justice for 40 consecutive days.

Mainstream media coverage tends to portray demonstrators as a monolith. However, each person who takes the initiative to publicly protest does so with a unique background, impetus and hopes. Their individuality intersects with others' to make a unified force, but each individual is a force in themselves.