The sequence of photos in this article was originally chronological. It’s been re-sequenced by the author to better fit the way he wants to compose the narrative. An archive of the previous version can be found here.
EDITOR’S NOTE :
Jungho Kim is a Bay Area-based photojournalist who contributed this piece to LCRW. As you know, dear readers, this outlet is completely funded by donations. Covering these kind of protests takes skill and means taking risks. If you are able, please consider contributing to his work at https://cash.app/$mrkim. We’d like to raise $250 for him. You can find his excellent photography portfolio here and follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
Several dozen counter protesters antagonized the “Zero Tolerance for White Supremacy” protest attendees in Martinez, California on Sunday, June 12. The presence and actions of these intimidators—recording video of protest participants at close distance and from a far, embroiling people in arguments, and making threats of physical violence on at least one occasion—created an air of hostility throughout the afternoon. Despite the tense mood, the primary message of the protest remained speaking out against racism and fighting white supremacy.
A counter-protester wearing a shirt that reads “Single Moms Matter” and depicting a dancer on a pole gives a fist bump to police officers while drinking.A protestor poses with a sign in front of the Contra Costa County Courthouse. “Black Lives Matter” was painted in large letters on the road in front of the courthouse with permission from the city — it was later vandalized by a couple who partially painted over it. They were eventually arrested, but won praise from Tucker Carlson for the act.A group of counter-protesters watches as several hundred march from the Contra Costa County Courthouse to the Waterfront Park.Several hundred people gather in front of the Contra Costa County Courthouse.A counter-protester is escorted away by organizers and a pastor after provoking the crowd.A Black Lives Matter flag is flown as people listen to speakers at Waterfront Park.A counter-protester wearing a vest with patches from the group E Clampus Vitus makes their way through the crowd.A protester holds a sign with the names of people killed by police in recent years.A protester kneels for 8 minutes and 46 seconds – the amount of time that Minneapolis police held their knee to George Floyd’s neck.A police officer is seen in the reflection of a window in downtown Martinez during the “Zero Tolerance for White Supremacy” protest in Martinez, Calif., on Sunday, July 12, 2020.An organizer of the protest leads the march from the Contra Costa County Courthouse to Waterfront Park.Protesters march to the Waterfront Park.A counter-protester turns away after engaging in a verbal dispute with a protester.A group including some counter-protesters have conversations while drinking in public.Protest attendees kneel for 8 minutes and 46 seconds – the amount of time that Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin held his knee to George Floyd’s neck.A person walks through the deserted downtown where most shops are boarded up.Long-time Martinez resident Ken King poses for a photo in the deserted downtown.Empty streets by the Contra Costa County Courthouse after the protest.
