This body of work documents the protests that ensued in Denver, Colorado following the murder of George Floyd. These photographs were captured on the 29th and 30th of May, just days after the unjust death occurred in Minneapolis. I felt it was important and necessary to see with my own eyes what was happening in the city that I live in, and what I saw wasn't always pretty, but it was powerful. People were angry, and rightly so. There were chants, moments of silence, fear of the tear gas and rubber bullets flying through the air, pure chaos at times. The contempt for the injustice in our country was palpable, and that acted as the glue that united the protesters. Although that sense of unity was evident, so too was the division between the people and the police.These images are an honest representation of what I witnessed while I was there.
Follow me on Instagram @nolansepter
Check out my website www.septerphoto.com
A protester who was just tear gassed, gets a milk solution sprayed into her eyes to subdue the effects. 5/29/2020
Police in riot gear stand in a line with the civic center station and downtown Denver in the background. 5/29/2020
Two protesters put out a fire that was intentionally started just seconds beforehand. 5/29/2020
A police officer holds his baton with the Colorado state capitol building in the background. 5/29/2020
A protester leans against a tree and observes the police while smoke fills the air. 5/29/2020
Firefighters put out a dumpster fire that was started outside of the state capitol building. 5/29/2020
Police walk towards the protesters on the wet ground after the fire was put out. 5/29/2020
One protester does the splits while others photograph and shout at police in riot gear. 5/30/2020
A medic holds up a towel and a bottle of tear gas / pepper spray combatant. 5/30/2020
Protesters tend to a woman crying after police started firing rubber bullets and tear gas. 5/30/2020
Protesters react after rubber bullets and tear gas were fired in their direction. The man who is holding up the mask was just sprayed with pepper spray. 5/30/2020
Protesters flee as Denver police fire an array of tear gas and rubber bullets. 5/30/2020
Multiple protesters help pull a man who was hit in the eye with a rubber bullet to safety. 5/30/2020
Protesters with medical supplies provide aid to a man who was shot in the eye with a rubber bullet. This man ended up having to get his eye removed. 5/30/2020
Protesters go back to where they were before they were forced to disperse due to the array of projectiles and tear gas fired at them. 5/30/2020
Protesters react after another round of tear gas and rubber bullets were fired in their direction. Some flee, and some stand their ground. 5/30/2020
A man on his knees holds out his sign after protesters gathered outside of the state capitol building. 5/30/2020
A man peeks from behind his sign outside of the state capitol building. 5/30/2020
A protester holds a sign in the air outside of the Colorado state capitol building. 5/30/2020
A protester holds a bundle of burning sage in front of a police officer outside of the Colorado state capitol building. 5/30/2020
A protester raises his burning sage in the air while police stand in the background. 5/30/2020
Two protesters carry part of a fence to help construct it. 5/30/2020
Protesters work together to put the pole in the fence as a city curfew enforced by the national guard was just minutes away from starting. 5/30/2020
Protesters gather sand bags to reinforce the newly constructed fence. 5/30/2020
Protesters shout to police and reporters from behind the fence. 5/30/2020
Vandalized structures at the Greek Amphitheater in Civic Center Park in downtown Denver. 5/30/2020
Follow me on Instagram @nolansepter
Check out my website www.septerphoto.com
