On May 29, 2021, protesters met at Occidental Park in Pioneer Square to commemorate George Floyd, who was murdered by Minneapolis police one year ago. Seattle residents marched to decry the continued systematic violence and racism exhibited by the Seattle Police Department (SPD).
The protest, headed by the Black Action Coalition, marched throughout First Hill, eventually converging with a separate protest group that joined from Downtown Seattle. Dozens of SPD officers followed the protest through the city, eventually swarming the march on 4th Avenue and arresting three protesters.
On Tuesday, June 1, the City Council could vote to release an additional $10.9 million to the SPD budget.
Jordan Somers | The Seattle Collegian Approximately 100 protesters attended the gathering, which was much fewer than anticipatedJordan Somers | The Seattle Collegian Protestors begin their march from Occidental Park onto 3rd AvenueJordan Somers | The Seattle Collegian A protestor beats a native drum toward the front of the marchJordan Somers | The Seattle Collegian Two members of the bike brigade march look onward toward dozens of incoming policemenJordan Somers | The Seattle Collegian Protestors look onward toward a mass of police officers blocking the next intersectionJordan Somers | The Seattle Collegian Officers followed the protests on bicycles, frequently barricading the protest from multiple directions as it made its way through First HillJordan Somers | The Seattle Collegian A group of protestors flip off officers standing across the street just as the march had commencedJordan Somers | The Seattle Collegian A police officer looks directly into the camera as he and fellow officers try to direct and restrain the crowd of marchersJordan Somers | The Seattle Collegian Protestors confront a large group of police officers barring the path forwardJordan Somers | The Seattle Collegian A protestor shouts vehemently toward a police officer who diverts their attention in another directionJordan Somers | The Seattle Collegian An SPD officer threatens protesters with pepper spray moments after dozens of policemen rode their bikes into the march, tackling and arresting several peopleJordan Somers | The Seattle Collegian Police officers tackle and immobilize a protester on 4th AvenueJordan Somers | The Seattle Collegian Police officers ride their bikes into the march, tackling and arresting several protestersJordan Somers | The Seattle Collegian A protestor holds a sign that reads “Land Back; Decolonize the Land; Decolonize Your heart”Jordan Somers | The Seattle Collegian Three SPD officers guard an area that was recently cleared of protestors off of 4th AvenueJordan Somers | The Seattle Collegian A lone protestor stares down dozens of police officers who had just made several arrestsJordan Somers | The Seattle Collegian A woman stands holding a “My Life Matters” sign on the street corner of 2nd Avenue and Washington Street, moments after the march came to a close
Jordan Somers is currently in his second year of Visual Media at Seattle Central College. He specializes in photojournalism and documentary work, with a particular emphasis on social movements happening throughout the city. His 2020 documentary, Hope is Not Cancelled, was an official selection at the Local Sightings Film Festival, and won an award for best editing at the Oregon Documentary Film Festival. Jordan is an avid traveler when granted the opportunity, and has a keen interest in psychology and existential philosophy.
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