One would think that after one of the most devastating weeks in U.S. history, police would stand in solidarity with those standing up against police brutality. Alas, that was not the case.
Instead, while hundreds of peaceful protesters gathered in Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, where Alton Sterling was fatally shot last week, tensions remained high – and one image has successfully showcased this.
The photograph is of a woman in a dress calmly standing in front of officers wearing full riot gear, including helmets, arm and shin guards, and bulletproof vests, who are about to take her into custody. Behind them is a line of officers standing at the ready, some with rifles drawn:
If there was no context, one would think the officers are courting her with a jig, but unfortunately the story isn’t such a fairytale.
More than 100 individuals who where associated with the protest were taken into custody, including prominent Black Lives Matter activist DeRay Mckesson.
Honestly, it’s not far off from the way our own police treated individuals during the #FeesMustFalls protests.
[source: mashable]
