POLICEMAN WITH 12 GAUGE SHOTGUN

The themes of Wednesday's protests (8/16/2000), were the issues of Police Brutality, the Death Penalty, Political Prisoners, and mass incarceration. At the Staples Center, some 2,000 LAPD Riot Squad Officers were deployed to intimidate the demonstrators. The LAPD were heavily armed with 12 Gauge Shotguns, Tear Gas guns, and Rubber Bullet guns. I took this photograph of a Policeman toting a 12 Gauge Shotgun. The grim faced Officer was not the only one to be carrying such a deadly weapon... many other Policemen were also displaying such guns. The fact that demonstrators stood their ground in the face of such intimidation speaks volumes for their courage and commitment. For more photographs and artworks dedicated to social justice, please visit the ART FOR A CHANGE Web site!