"That’s all nonviolence is – organized love. - Joan Baez"
Long time, no see, but I hope you have all been well. While there hasn't been much action on my page, I've been working and thinking about the topic of protest. I've been researching the origins and forms of famous protest movements, along with looking for some thought-provoking quotations. But this isn't just a mere thought exercise. My country has been extremely lucky to have the freedom to peacefully protest and remain unbothered by the police, the government and even the wider community with opposing views. I've been to a few protests now in the past 5-10 years, for various causes. The younger version of me would probably be amused to remind me of the number of times I stated that I was "not a political person". I don't think I am, and I don't think of myself as an activist either. I prefer to say that I’m simply recording pieces of history.
One of the most significant protests in Barbados was the 1937 Riots, which were triggered by the deportation of labour rights activist, Clement Payne. This rebellion of the working class lasted 4 days and resulted in 14 deaths, 47 injuries, 500 arrests, and extensive property damage around the capital and neighbouring areas. This wave of dissent would give way to increased activism and start new political parties seeking independence from British rule. My mum and I were reflecting a few days ago regarding the state of protest in this country. I asked her if she recalls any protests in her youth, and she said she didn't remember many. At most, they would have been few and far between, and mostly against government action. In fact, it was more likely to hear about protest action in our fellow Caribbean islands than right here at home (pre-internet times, of course) These days, however, it feels like the complete opposite with some form of protest almost every few weeks.
An overhead shot using my Samsung Phone. I always recommend carrying one to protests for quick clips and wide-angle shots.
In the past few months alone, there have been marches for Palestine, sale of land assets by the government, escalating violent crime and a controversial reggae concert on a religious holiday. It's been so hard to even keep track, with most making the news after the fact. It's even more difficult to attend some of them due to the times and short notice. I guess this is the point of non-violent protest, to cause disruption/annoyance rather than harm to citizens. The photographs in this post are from two of a wider series of marches (dubbed the “Love March” and the “Love Barbados March”) against the sale of state assets such as the Holetown Civic Centre and the old Barbados General Hospital to make way for overseas investors.
Protester at the Mar 22, 2025 Love March at Holetown carrying the Barbados flag.
Often, I cannot help but to wonder when and why things seem to have changed. Are things getting worse than times before? Maybe. Or do I simply perceive things getting worse due to greater accessibility of information. Either way, what makes a collective group so willing to leave the comfort and routine of their daily lives to organise and march on the street? The answers may not be so simple or obvious. Everyone has some boundary (or boundaries) that they are not willing to compromise on. Jobs and livelihood? Of course. Safety and security? Definitely. Political issues? Probably. Social issues that are your own? Maybe. Social issues that have little or nothing to do with your demographic? I'd love to know your own answer. Moreover, what protest methods would you choose to send your message? Either way, change does not happen in a vacuum. I'll revisit this topic at some point, maybe several times. For now, I'll leave you with one of my favourite quotes on protest by a former executive director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Benjamin Lawson Hooks, who said this:
“If anyone thinks that we are not going to demonstrate and protest, they had better roll up the sidewalks.”
Enough said.
An unusual protest with flags, rather than placards and signs.
Camera and equipment details:
Camera: Nikon D7200
Mobile Phone: Samsung A21S
Lenses: Nikon 50mm F1.8 G Auto Focus-S, Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S
Lighting: Natural Light
Software: Adobe Photoshop 2019
Until next time...get up and stand up.
