George Floyd, Black Lives Matter Protests

Washington D.C, 2020

On May 28, protests erupted in Minneapolis, MN in response to the murder of George Floyd by a police officer. Over the following days, protests were organized in over 140 cities across the US and were met by a violent response from many police departments. I have been on the ground in Washington, D.C. documenting the protests here as they progress. When possible, I avoid publishing faces to protect the identity of protestors from state surveillance.

Shot on the Black Magic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K.

If you or your organization are interested in licensing the raw footage, please contact me at mark@mlmcdaniel.com.

May 29th

Part 1 of a series of short vignettes from the anti-racism protests in Washington, D.C. Following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, protesters took to the streets in D.C. on Friday, May 29, 2020. After a heated demonstration and clashes with law enforcement near the White House, protesters were forced out of Lafayette Square by Secret Service riot police with pepper spray. Cameras and editing by Mark McDaniel. www.mlmcdaniel.com

Following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, protesters took to the streets in D.C. on Friday, May 29, 2020. After a heated demonstration and clashes with law enforcement near the White House, protesters were forced out of Lafayette Square by Secret Service riot police with pepper spray.

May 30th

Part 2 of a series of short vignettes from the anti-racism protests in Washington, D.C. After being expelled from Lafayette Square the previous evening, protestors regrouped in much larger numbers on Friday, May 30, 2020 . Secret Service and U.S. Park Police barricaded and blocked access to the park. The presence of riot police resulted in much higher tension than the previous day. In the evening, several small fires were set and quickly extinguished by other protesters. The police responded by using tear gas and shooting the crowd with pepper balls. The situation escalated quickly following the tear gas. Protesters smashed the windows of the AFL-CIO and Ronald Reagan buildings and several vehicles were set on fire. Cameras and editing by Mark McDaniel. www.mlmcdaniel.com

After being expelled from Lafayette Square the previous evening, protestors regrouped in much larger numbers on Friday, May 30, 2020. Secret Service and U.S. Park Police barricaded and blocked access to the park. The presence of riot police resulted in much higher tension than the previous day.

In the evening, several small fires were set and quickly extinguished by other protesters. The police responded by using tear gas and shooting the crowd with pepper balls. The situation escalated quickly following the tear gas. Protesters smashed the windows of the AFL-CIO and Ronald Reagan buildings and several vehicles were set on fire.

May 31st

On Sunday evening, police pulled back to the center of Lafayette Park, past the guard house along H St. Protesters filled the space, climbing on the guard house. They were separated from the police by a fenced “no-man’s-land.” The mood was much more combative than the previous evening and police were heavy handed with tear gas and pepper balls. Protesters responded in kind, throwing water bottles and fireworks. To remove protesters from the roof of the guard house, police deployed a large amount of tear gas near building. Protesters scattered until the gas had cleared - and in response - set the guard house on fire. Simultaneously, a large fire was set in the street and several buildings, including St. John’s Episcopal Church were also set on fire. Police deployed tear gas, pepper balls, and rubber bullets, then pushed forward with riot squads to try to clear the streets. Cameras and editing by Mark McDaniel. mlmcdaniel.com

On Sunday evening, police pulled back to the center of Lafayette Square, past the guard house along H St, and set up a fenced off “no-man’s-land.” Protesters filled the space in the park, climbing on the guard house.

The mood was more combative compared to the previous evening, though there seemed to be a greater sense of solidarity among the protesters. Water, snacks, and supplies were handed out freely. Musicians played the Italian partisan folk song “Bella Ciao” while the crowd sang along.

As the evening wore on, police became more heavy handed with tear gas and pepper balls. Protesters responded in kind, throwing more water bottles and fireworks.

To remove protesters from the roof of the guard house, police deployed a large amount of tear gas near the building. Protesters scattered until the gas had cleared - and in response - set the guard house on fire. The situation escalated quickly. A large fire was set in the street and several buildings, including St. John’s Episcopal Church, were also set on fire.

Police deployed tear gas, pepper balls, and rubber bullets, then pushed forward with riot squads in an attempt to clear the streets. The lights on the White House went dark.