A fracture in Black Lives Matter

This was the last major protest I filmed in Oakland for the George Floyd protests of 2020.

I knew after filming it that the movement would quiet down after. I captured a split within the protest that had been percolating in conversations and hinted at, but up until that moment I had not seen this fracture materialize in anger on the ground.

Many news outlets wanted to show the footage of people burning down the courthouse alone. I insisted on a bit more context and asked that they show the argument play out beforehand of peaceful protests vs destruction.

I have mixed feelings about the part I played in how the story is told. Ultimately its a nuanced story in a flashy media environment. I think a lot of people were struggling with that moment, in trying to figure out the next step.

and this is what CBS pulled from my work-