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 4,000 people faced off with the LAPD Riot Squad. The LAPD were heavily armed with 12 Gauge Shotguns, Tear Gas guns, and Rubber Bullet guns. The were deployed in overwhelming and intimidating force. I took this photograph of a young female protestor as she fearlessly stared down the gun toting Police standing opposite her. For more photographs and artworks dedicated to social justice, please visit the ART FOR A CHANGE Web site!

if that lady is so 'fearless' why is she covering her face? what does she have to hide

Ever hear of COUNTERPOL? How about the police destruction of the Black Panther Party or the Weathermen? If you think activists will be given the same Constitutional rights as you, think again. Just read the posts on this page from those harassed by the police for no reason whatsoever. What about the activist in DC who was stopped on the sidewalk by police who just happened to have a picture of him? Police surveillance and harassment are real, check out Friday's LA Times if you don't believe me.

Ever hear of COUNTERPOL? How about the police destruction of the Black Panther Party or the Weathermen? If you think activists will be given the same Constitutional rights as you, think again. Just read the posts on this page from those harassed by the police for no reason whatsoever. What about the activist in DC who was stopped on the sidewalk by police who just happened to have a picture of him? Police surveillance and harassment are real, check out Friday's LA Times if you don't believe me.

The anti-activist program is called COINTELPRO.

The only real reason to wear a mask is to help prevent the inhaling of tear gas. Perhaps this is more of a fashion thing.

Even if the FBI counter-insurgency people were out to get this girls identity, she'd be pretty easy to spot. Her hair, Her eyes, Her complexion, Her fingerprints. The more you hide, the more you validate thier operational procedures. It just gives them all that more reason to act against us. The fact is, people who act like criminals even though they know they are not, are easier targets for the pigs. If your acting guilty, they'll be much more likely to home in on that. If your acting afraid, they'll home in on that. If your acting like you've something to hide, they'll home in on that.

Although I support peoples rights to wear masks, especially for chemical warfare tactics. Although, I think it can cloud the messages people are trying to get out also. Why should we be afraid to say that there is something wrong with the system? Show them your face, what can they really do? run your face through some FBI supercomputer that has everyones face in it? Don't count on it. What can they really do? Wearing masks just makes you all that more easy to beat and covers your mouth. I'm sure they'd probably rather we all wore masks. If your really so paraniod that you need to wear a mask, then you should know that the police are not all powerfull. They are not going to go out and infiltrate into 100,000 peoples lives, its just silly, impracticle and logistically impossible. I'm not saying that they won't try to infiltrate groups, but as long as the groups stay true to themselves and thier causes, they can't do anything except convey intelligence about when a protest might occur. It's not like some James Bond movie. Let the fear be continue to be thier possession, until the day comes when they will understand how wrong they are.

Wow- it still amazes me to hear that there is still such a large segment of the "radical" activist movement who clings on to the notion of the noble cause and how it will sheild us from harm. Wake the h*ll up!

The State will do all in its power to preserve itself regardless of how "right" you think your cause is. They won't infiltrate every group or put surveillance on every activist, huh? I think you underestimate our opposition. ALready the FBI was complete capability to read anyone's email, phone conversations, monitor mail, etc. And if you are REALLy a threat you get the added bonus of physical surveillance on your home or workplace! Hooray for you to think they will not do this!

When the person above mentioned the Black Panthers and the American Indian Movement they were refering to REAL radical groups which displayed an uncompromising threat to the powers that be- Capital and the State. No wonder the state ended up just killing off the Black Panthers and AIM and imprisoning the survivors for years upon years!

But now you think that just because we are many that we should not hide our identities from them? Should we all begin writing to our local FBI offices and sending them our pictures and our histories? Because if you threaten their system enough they will find out all they want about you as long as you allow them to know who and where you are.

Now the alternative is as simple as what this girl did- hide yourself. Don't let them know who you are or what you are doing. This sort of anonymity will allow all of us the sort of flexibility we could easily end up losing if decide our "moral righteousness" and limelight is more important than making a real change.

If you threaten them enough they will come look for you. History will teach you that.