Freedom Blazing In New Orleans, Louisiana

by Michael Hoard

Title

Freedom Blazing In New Orleans, Louisiana

Artist

Michael Hoard

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

As a photographer images etched into my mind retrospect and as a photographer taking photos such as this saddens me someone would incite their anger by the burning of the America Flag during what was a peaceful demonstration. Thou while attending what I consider important issues and my personal documentation, images of this kind numbs me as an American.

One of a series of images of the ongoing removal of Confederate Statues though at any moment I and other onlookers and protestors from both sides of headline news, locally and around the world would I ever expect to witness the symbol of our country plastic American Flags being set ablaze from a photographers perspective.

Thought it is not illegal it is a 1st amendment right to demonstrate voice your opinions publicly and yet Flag burning is allowed yet frowned upon greatly. As a adolescent I do remember vividly the Vietnam era and watching vets protest in anger and disgust of America and witness American Flag burnings on TV as well as others around the world that one moment which anger became hatred of the values of living in a free society.

I have been documenting from both sides from a artist and photographers perspective the removal of all confederate statues consider a nuisance by the Mayor of New Orleans. I attended the removal of the statue of General Beauregard which was one of the four the remaining General Robert E. Lee.

All of the statues which have been removed have been dismantled during the nighttime hours for public safety and workers safety. All the individuals there faces covered head gear and bullet proof vest. The Beauregard statue one of the heaviest was finally hosted up by a giant crane moved into position. After 5 longer hours it was placed on a flatbed and removed to a undisclosed location.

Yesterday it was announcement someone walked upon a junk yard and found The Jefferson Davis monument and The General Beauregard, it has been stated since the beginning all the statues would be brought to a city owned warehouse for future decision of a plaza created with markers and placement.

Prior to the removal around 3:00 am a second line marched to the barricades where all the demonstrators from both sides watched the process. As the marching band neared crowds rushed to them and started dancing and second lining to the scene

I started to circle around the thick crowds of people dancing to the music and raising my camera for a shot. My cell had gone dead and walked over to an area away from the crowds and took my lap top out of my backpack to charge my cell phone.

As I was sitting there I noticed flickering between the protestors legs and jumped up to see what was going on and someone set ablaze plastic America Flags thrown down onto the street. As I got closer with my camera my first impression was someone from the demonstrators who were in favor of the statues removal had set ablaze confederate flags. As I got closer I thought oh my god it was plastic America Flags, my heart was pounding fearing a major confrontation among the demonstrators from both sides.

The police started jumping over the barricades in place to snuff the ragging fire of the pile of plastic American Flags set ablaze. I quickly started taking photos as the police were getting closer and backed away so I would not place myself in danger or any tactics by the officers.

I was able to take images as I was backing away as they stomped out the fire. I then went back to the area which I was sitting to check on my lap top and phone plug into the computer. As I was sitting there after the police left another demonstrator reset the flags ablaze once again as I was taking the photo you see I saw through the viewfinder as I was moving around a hand reach in and sprayed a flammable liquid and quickly retreated from the scene.

Backing away another disruption and I saw a woman now on the ground and one standing and the crowds started screaming to the officers you are arresting the wrong individual and the crowds followed the woman whom they arrested screaming in her defense look at the videos of everyone took she did not start the fire. and the police responding if you do not back away you too will be arrested.

I too saw the woman earlier standing to my left observing across the barricades at the protesters opposing the statues removable. I am personally against and type of desecration of the America Flag or any other individual burning their homelands flag. Flag burning does exist not here in America but in heated moments of a demonstration flags haves been burned.

After the arrest of the woman onlooker I went back to the area and reached down and took one of the flags which did not burn for keepsake of the momentous times of social and civil unrest among residents of the City of New Orleans and elsewhere I was in shock and outrage someone within the crowd took it upon themselves to express their anger and possible incite what could have been a highly dangerous situation. I personally feel in my on opinion the removal of past occurrences in history will not change the unforeseen future any social indifferences. There will always remain someone, some group in opposition of a social issues here in America and around the world will provoke evil.

When I got home early morning and turned on the TV there was mentioned of arrest, demonstrators dancing to a second line, but nothing of concern someone set ablaze in protest plastic American Flags. As a photographer and from my perspective I have attending all forms of marches for and against causes and never felt I was in danger exception for these unsettling times in America a new form of social civil movement to act upon and make change of past wrong doings. May all of humanity find solace and find peaceful change of indifferences for a better future for all generations.

This image one of a series in a future book release titled "The Rise And Fall Of Confederate Statues In New Orleans, Louisiana" titled and photos copyright by Michael Hoard (All Rights Reserved) C 2017

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May 18th, 2017

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