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 Riot Cop toting a 12 Gauge Shotgun, he was not the only one to display such weaponry. The fact that protestors 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!