THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS IN LOS ANGELES

The uprisings and protests over the death of George Floyd erupted in Los Angeles not unlike its legendary wildfires. The flare-ups were largely spontaneous and unpredictable, some small and contained, others massive and out-of-control. Yet all were fueled with an undeniable burning passion against police brutality and racial injustice.

Unlike the Rodney King riots of 1992, fewer structures were set on fire. (The taste of burnt ash faded from my tongue in hours rather than days.) This time protestors represented every race imaginable, and the South Central neighborhoods where many protestors resided were sparred. Instead, affluent areas like Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Hollywood and downtown became the hot spots. Events were overlaid onto a global pandemic, adding another dimension of anxiety along with the bizarre visual motif of millions of masked humans.

The anger, violence and mayhem of the first few days of protests eventually gave way to displays of hope and exuberance, then to more peaceful reflective demonstrations during week two – a powerful progression of collective physical emotion documented in this series of images.

A vandalized body shop on Beverly Blvd.
Reclining on an abandoned chair set taken from a nearby boutique and left in the middle of Beverly Blvd.; a young man watches riots unfold in his neighborhood.
Making off with designer throw pillows from a luxury gift store on La Brea Ave.
Protestors on Beverly Blvd. and La Brea Ave.
Protesters pose amid the post-riot wreckage on Melrose Avenue.
A pair entering a plundered Rite Aid in Santa Monica
The backroom of a CVS pharmacy in Santa Monica after a rampage.
As the peaceful demonstrations wound down, a group heads for the exit of a pillaged Rite Aid in Santa Monica.
Atermath in Rite Aid’s frozen food section
Protestors run past a down Santa Monica street in the business district that sustained major damage.
A burned BMW destroyed during the protests in Santa Monica sits lifeless on a street corner.
Participants in a drive-by pop-up protest in East Hollywood, one of many in the city.
Uprisers march down Hollywood Boulevard during a peaceful BLM demonstration.
Youths in a convertible cruise down Hollywood Boulevard, protesting from their cars.
A line of young protesters on the roof of a bus stop during one of the daily BLM demonstrations outside City Hall.
A young family joins the protests outside of City Hall in downtown Los Angeles
Wearing a Covid-19 mask fashioned into a mini protest sign, a young woman marches in a demonstrations in downtown Los Angeles
"I Can't Breathe" tees for sale lined on the ground in a haunting array outside City Hall during the mass BLM demonstrations.
A crowd of peaceful protesters gather outside City Hall in downtown Los Angeles.
Protestors on the roof and hood of their car participating in the historic BLM march down Hollywood Boulevard.
Demonstrators make their way down the Walk-of-Fame to join to the historic mass march down Hollywood Boulevard during the second week of George Floyd protests in Los Angeles.
Thousands flood Hollywood Blvd for the historic BLM march during the second week of George Floyd protests.
Three women protest from their convertible on Hollywood Blvd in the evening of the historic BLM march.
Crowds of demonstrators remain along the Walk of Fame after the historic mass March on Hollywood Blvd protesting police brutality.
Protesters at the intersection of Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave. take part in a candlelight vigil honoring George Floyd and other victims of racism and police brutality.