Protestor in Iconic Black Lives Matter Photo Identified
The protestor in an already-iconic photo from Black Lives Matter‘s protests in Baton Rogue has been identified. In the image, the woman – Ieshia Evans, according to The Atlantic – stands stoic in a roadway across from police officers wearing riot gear. A list of the 102 protestors arrested Saturday specifies that Evans was charged with obstructing a highway.
On Facebook, Evans has posted several articles and statuses connected to the protests and the photo. “To all of my friends and acquaintances please don’t do any interviews about me,” she wrote early Monday morning, calling the movement “the work of God.” “If they want my story, I am here. I would like the opportunity to represent myself! Thank you. Peace, love, blk power! #blacklivesmatter”
“It’s funny how ppl that never had but one convo want to claim me now smh,” she wrote hours later. “Listen, I love the love but again … I just want to get home to my son! Then I’ll handle it.”
The Atlantic spoke to Jonathan Bachman, the New Orleans photographer who captured the image for Reuters. He traveled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana – where Alton Sterling was shot and killed last week by police –on both Thursday and Saturday.
“It happened quickly, but I could tell that she wasn’t going to move, and it seemed like she was making her stand,” Bachman said of the woman in the photo. “To me it seemed like: You’re going to have to come and get me. And I just thought it seemed like this was a good place to get in position and make an image, just because she was there in her dress and you have two police officers in full riot gear.
“It wasn’t very violent,” Bachman continued. “She didn’t say anything. She didn’t resist, and the police didn’t drag her off. It’s representative of the peaceful demonstrations that have been going on down here. I understand that officers have been hurt in other cities, but down here it’s remained peaceful.”
Quinyetta McMillan, mother of Alton Sterling’s son, says police killed a man whose children depended on him. Watch here.