Thread by @GrimKim

I’ve seen quite a bit of liberal handwringing about antifa and the black bloc being mean to reporters/photographers this past weekend in DC and have a few thoughts to share as someone who 1) was there, 2) is regularly stalked by white supremacists, and 3) is a member of the press

First off, when reporting on this kind of protest, an actual understanding of the black bloc as a tactic is crucial. It’s not just for funsies or to look intimidating. The bloc serves a simple function: protection.

Masking up protects individual identities. It gives cover for individuals who pursue autonomous actions, and protects protestors from being targeted by police and fascists with cameras. Doxxing is a very real threat when you’re dealing with unhinged, violent white supremacists.

I understand why media love snapping photos of the black bloc: it looks cool! The aesthetic screams “lede image”! It’s certainly worth documenting. BUT, no post or photo is worth endangering the lives of people who are putting their bodies on the line in the fight against racism

There are responsible ways to document protests and protestors, even those in the black bloc. What we saw from quite a lot of the media in DC during #DefendDC was irresponsible at best, and downright dangerous at worst.

As the bloc marched towards Lafayette to confront the white supremacist scum, a raft of media - dozens of people - stood in front, blocking our progress down the street, stopping us every few blocks, leaving us vulnerable to police aggression. We were put at risk for your byline

During this chaos, reporters and camera crews roamed through the bloc, shoving cameras in people’s faces, getting underfoot, hindering movement. Some media were very respectful of consent - thank you! You’re great! Others, not so much.

I didn’t see anyone get “aggressive” with any media types, but understand why they theoretically might: it’s a tense situation, and having a camera shoved in your face while being surrounded by cops is stressful at best. Sure, it was a public space. But maybe use common sense?

I know my replies are going to be a mess and I will write more about this elsewhere, but I want to make it clear what went down, and why it matters. Working in media is hard. So is fighting white supremacy. Respecting one another’s safety and autonomy is critical, now and always.