On a hot Sunday in July 2016, protestors shut down the Hernando Desoto Bridge in Memphis, TN. This was a spontaneous act of civil disobedience to demand justice. I was a young photojournalist at the time. 

I made it to work at a CBS affiliate just in time before my 2 pm shift started. I sat at my favorite editing bay to pull file videos and make sure my gear is ready for the day. I then got a call from the assignment desk asking me to go walk with and interview individuals from a group of demonstrators gathered outside of the National Civil Rights Museum as they march to meet up with another group gathered outside of the FedEx Forum. Some of the activists then led the group to the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center, or 201 Poplar as it is known locally, and from there the group marched to the Hernando Desoto Bridge to shut it down.

I was with the first group to breach a barricade of Memphis Police officers blocking a ramp onto the interstate. I was the only photojournalist. Though it ended up being a long day at work, I was glad that I, as a documentary filmmaker, was there to document the event. However, I did not own any of the content I filmed, and that did not sit well with me as a documentary filmmaker. So I made the decision to prioritize my work as a documentary filmmaker even if that meant leaving the news to have more time to work on projects for myself. That’s what I did. 

Since leaving the news I have attended several social justice events, and I’m currently working on a short documentary titled On Civil Disobedience. Watch the teaser below.