Photograph by
Oliver, Tommy, American, born 1984
Subject of
Unidentified Man or Men
Los Angeles Police Department, American, founded 1869
National Guard of the United States, American, founded 1903
Floyd, George Perry Jr., American, 1973 - 2020
Lacey, Jackie, American, born 1957
Black Lives Matter - Los Angeles, American, founded 2013
Date
June 3, 2020
Medium
digital
Dimensions
H x W: 3672 pixels × 6286 pixels
File size: 132.11 MB
Caption
Photographer Tommy Oliver is an award-winning producer and cinematographer in television and film. Best known for his 2020 documentary 40 Years a Prisoner on HBO, his docuseries Black Love (2017–2020) on OWN, and his feature film The Perfect Guy (2015), Oliver challenges audiences to question their assumptions about race, gender, and family. The film Kinyarwanda (2011), which Oliver co-produced, weaves together narratives of resilience during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. It won the Sundance Film Festival’s award for World Cinema Drama and was recognized as one of the top 10 films of 2011. This photograph is part of a broader portfolio of images taken during Black Lives Matter rallies in Los Angeles between May 31 and June 14, 2020.
Description
A digital, black-and-white image of members of the National Guard and Los Angeles Police Department officers standing guard during a Black Lives Matter - Los Angeles protest against District Attorney Jackie Lacey in Downtown Los Angeles, California. The image was taken by Tommy Oliver during the protests that followed the death of George Floyd. The National Guard members and police officers are standing on the steps in front of the Hall of Justice, facing the viewer. The image was taken from the bottom of the steps. One National Guard member stands at attention at the front center of the group. He is holding a large, clear shield upright and directly in front of him. The bottom edge of the shield rests on the ground and the top reaches chest level. Blazoned across the center of the shield is a black banner with white text that reads, [POLICE]. The National Guard member holding the shield is wearing a camouflage patterned uniform, gloves, a riot helmet with a chin strap and clear visor, and has a long barreled gun attached to his belt. His visor is lowered, covering his eyes. His uniform has a black outlined, rectangular patch with black text that reads [SF] over his proper left deltoid. Just to the left of him is a metal handrail that leads down the steps. Flanking him on either side are two groupings of other officers. On the left, in the foreground, is a police officer facing the viewer. He is wearing a police uniform with a light tone shirt, dark pants, a helmet with the clear visor down, and a protective vest over his chest. Attached to the vest over his proper left chest is a six pointed star. He is standing with his thumbs hooked under each side of the front of his protective vest. He also has a large dark pouch attached to his tactical belt. Just behind him is a small grouping of police officers standing directly in front of the building. They are blurred and partially obstructed by the handrail. On the far right, is a grouping of a National Guard member and two other police officers. The National Guard member at the front of the group is standing at attention and facing the viewer. He is wearing a camouflage uniform, a riot helmet with a clear visor, knee and leg guards, and a protective vest. The barrel of a rifle rests on the top of his proper right knee protector and the stock against his proper left shoulder. Behind him, and to the left, is a police officer. He is wearing a police uniform with a light tone shirt, dark pants, a helmet with the clear visor down, and a gun belt. His proper right thumb is hooked inside the belt and his proper left thumb is hooked inside him pant pocket. He’s looking into the distance on the left. Behind him is another police officer, who stands with his body turned to the viewer and his face turned towards the left. His image is slightly blurred. He is wearing a light tone police uniform shirt, dark pants, a protective vest with a six pointed star over his chest, and a riot helmet with the visor raised. In the left foreground is a blurred and hazy, light semicircular shape. In the background is the white, columned entrance to the Hall of Justice building.
Place captured
Downtown LA, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Movement
Black Lives Matter
Type
digital images
digital media - born digital
Topic
Activism
Justice
Photography
Police brutality
Race relations
Resistance
U.S. History, 2001-
Urban life
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Tommy and Codie Oliver
Object number
2021.31.12
Restrictions & Rights
© Tommy Oliver
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5b347d217-4bba-49d2-90ed-b7ddf62bce1d

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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