66. The Faces of Resistance
Portraits from the Ceasefire Now! Rally, Ōtepoti Dunedin, Aotearoa New Zealand, Sat., 13 July 2024
I have continued to participate in and document the pro-Palestinian rallies that have taken place in my hometown of Dunedin, New Zealand, almost every Saturday since the middle of October 2023. I won’t write about the political context here, as I’ve done in earlier posts ( 45. Photography is a political act; 60. Zooming in, zooming out). Instead, I’d like to share some portraits of the protesters.
Most news reports about protests focus on the number of participants and the main message, usually illustrated by a photograph that features the most prominent banner, signs, and leaders at the front of the march. If a journalist is there to write up a story, the main organiser is often interviewed. While I take the expected images showing protesters from a distance as a mass with a message, I also like to get close enough to focus on the individual signs and faces. Although many are familiar from previous marches, there are always new faces, people joining the march for the first time. Some have a family connection to Palestine or Israel, while many, like me, do not. However, we all share a desire for peace, and we understand the importance of compassion, connection, and community.
There are usually others with dedicated cameras at these events. Many take still images and videos with their phones as they march. I’m one of many participants contributing to the effort to document these events and the people taking part. I’ve made a practice of sharing my photos by posting a link on the Dunedin for Justice in Palestine Facebook page, on my Instagram account, and on my website (markmcguire.net). I attach a Creative Commons CC-BY (Attribution Only) License to the photos so that they can be downloaded and shared without the need to ask permission. The ten images below and 220 more from this rally can be downloaded from bit.ly/DunedinRally13July2024.
What’s next?
It took me a few days to process the photos I took at this protest. I plan to start on the photos I took of the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival (June 21) next.
What do you think?
I invite you to leave a comment below.
This is very uplifting - thanks for taking the time to share.