protest of the protesters

a short entry about my first fellowship assignment

what does a drag queen, a far right nationalist and I have in common? our presence on the corner of skill man and live oak in dallas last saturday.

protesters against buzzbrew’s drag brunch (which one website labeled as “family friendly”) were met with counter protesters in support of the restaurant. groups like the new columbia movement protested the performance of drag for children. (from what I shot and saw, none were in attendance.)

this was my first assignment as a photo fellow for the texas tribune. I was already going to dallas this weekend and jumped at the chance to shoot a protest. protests are always a fun challenge for me; finding a strong subject and composition in a feverish ever-changing scene, and, on top of that, depicting the counter protest and context of the location.

anti-dragers posted up on the other side of the crosswalk, shouting from what became a private island with a dangerous moat of passing cars. counter-protesters were already there; anarchists, allies and a couple drag queens.

a prayer chanted over and over created near hypnosis.

driver gave a middle finger to the islanders, but whethet that was in support of the counter protesters or because they blocked his view of the road, we may never know.

the only kid I saw all day— his mom later confronted the protesters, and clarified she did not bring her son to a brunch, she brought him to a protest.

the term anti-drag seems to be up for debate. one fella said this on the dallas morning news’ coverage.

can you spot me? hint: I have the best footwear.

I am really truly sorry that I have not held my promise about not only posting on holidays. but the national calendar aligns so well with my planned publications. just kidding. I don’t plan when to publish. maybe its the fact that it is a holiday gets me off my ass to write.

my next assignment is at 8 am in downtown austin in the newsroom, where four new members of the texas house will speak on a panel with the trib’s politics reporter. that probably won’t get an entire sub stack. maybe just a tweet?