There was a small element of excitement
and like, “****, this is it, we’re on the frontline.”
Somebody coined it “The Battle of Trafalgar,”
which I thought was quite profound because it was real.
It did feel like you were...
you were in a space where you were making history.
[Developing News]
My name is Henry Jay Kamara.
I’m a photographer and visual artist from London.
And today I’m here to talk about my images from
the Black Lives Matter protest.
So this was around the time where
Tommy Robinson had just put out the threat that
he was going to come and be at the Black Lives Matter protest as well.
So this is actually on that day, on the Saturday.
This guy was actually part of the stand against
the Tommy Robinson anti-protest.
So he was part of a organization called Love Me Black.
His mum had just spoken about her struggle and her journey into the UK
and the fact that despite so many years have been passed,
she stands next to her son and listens to her son
have a conversation to his generation about
the same struggles that she had gone through.
I like the flare in the bottom here.
I like how I’ve captured him mid-speech.
He’s not necessarily looking at me.
It's not like a portrait.
It's more of, you know,
I'm here and I'm listening to what he's saying
and I’ve captured that moment.
Growing up you never saw a lot of images like this in the press,
of young black men addressing crowds, you know, speaking truth,
not necessarily looking particularly dangerous.
And I just want to draw attention to this sign at the back,
“Don’t let the system get you down.”
That was the overriding message.
You know, understanding that you don’t have to let the system
make you feel like you can’t love yourself
and put yourself first.
And I think that that's what this moment really culminates for me.
It was at the steps of Trafalgar Square.
For me, this is just a very powerful image of unification, solidarity,
and just making sure that your voice is heard.
There was an occasion when I was going to work,
actually, I was going to a meeting.
And it was around the time when there was a lot of stabbings in London
and the chief of police had increased their ability to use stop and search
as a means to prevent crime.
I was approached and they said that
was I aware that there had been seven stabbings
in the past two weeks in this area, et cetera, et cetera?
And one of them tries to grab me and says,
“We’re going to search you,”
and, “You look suspicious, you might carry a weapon.”
In that moment, I tried to
bring them to the understanding of their conditioning
and the reasons as to why they felt I was a threat.
It was a moment where I was faced with the reality of what I look like
and how it can have an effect on people's perceptions.
And I think that that is what I’m most interested in.
You know, I understand that perceptions are built off of
things that are casually accepted as normal.
So this image actually came about from
a moment when we received some threats and some objects thrown at us
and we turned around and chose to form a line of solidarity
to protect the most vulnerable protesters.
And this moment came from three young men just linking arms.
And I think that it was just super powerful.
I think what I am happy with is the composition of the image.
I think there is a nice rule of thirds going on.
And I like the tones
and the differences of attire that the three guys are wearing,
and how that presents a nice contrast.
I guess for me, the reason why I chose to specifically capture
the linking of arms in this image
and not necessarily focus on who the people were specifically
was because I wanted this image to be
representative of solidarity and unity,
despite who you are and where you come from.
And I actually shared the image with Raspect,
who, you know, is part of Gangs Unite,
and he really liked this image
because I think again it just captures
the essence of what they’re trying to do.
You know, gang truce, despite being from different sides,
being able to stand together in solidarity
to confront the common enemy.
This is probably one of my favorite images ever.
I just think because of the moment and what this picture represents,
I think it’s one of the most powerful images I’ve taken.
So this image came about when we had sort of reconvened
on the steps of Trafalgar Square.
Because I think this image just really captures
everybody’s spirit, everybody’s intent.
These guys were sort of the leaders of the group.
His message was, particularly at this point,
making sure that in this moment of solidarity,
everybody here understands that they are making a stand against racism.
And in order to do so, we must stand together as one,
not necessarily go off and fight under individual groups.
And at that moment in time, we had just been split up as a group
and people were going off to have a fight
and people were being drawn here and there.
And there was this moment of culmination
back on the stairs of Trafalgar Square.
I think one of the most significant signs is this one here,
it says, “Oppose Tommy Robinson,”
and, “Don’t let the racists divide us.”
And... can’t really see this one fully,
but it says, “No racist **** allowed on this estate.”
You know where they have these
“No ball games are allowed on this estate” signs?
So this is actually a remake of that.
And I think that growing up
not being able to play football in your estate is like...
the biggest violation to your human rights
as a 12-year-old kid growing up in an estate
when you’ve got limited access to gardens and grass areas
and you want to play football.
So I think it’s really significant that that sign is being used by
a young black person,
because in their language that is the biggest way of
having that conversation and representing how they feel.
Oh, I actually just noticed the top of Stormzy’s head
is in this photo.
But yeah, I think it’s important that
the context of this image is understood.
And, you know, it being in London
and it being about the black experience in the UK,
I think it adds that context to the image.
You know where you are because of the National Gallery,
and it just gives that sense of place.
And yeah, I’m really happy with this image.
If I had to sum up the energy that day,
how I was feeling, I think it would probably be profound.
Just because it’s one of the first organized protests
that I felt so close to.
It was infectious because...
there is a fear that we have when we are by ourselves
to really say what we want.
But when you’re around people, there’s this shared sense of,
“We’re just going to say whatever the **** we want, basically.”
That is so encouraging and just a feeling that I can’t really describe.
It’s this sort of reconnection with what is important.
And I think that there’s this sense that everybody walking around
had this unity.
There was this, “We are all on the same thing, basically.”
And that was something that
I had never really felt as intensely as I did in that moment
because it was so clear what we were there for
and what we were trying to achieve.
And it didn’t matter what was in our way.
And that was super special,
something that is going to stay with me for a long time.