Category

Documentary

Location

Southport

Gear

Fujifilm XT3, XF 18-55

Description

Following a vigil to commemorate the lives of three young girls murdered in my community of Southport, far-right thugs attacked our local mosque under the guise of protest. The violent riots caused devastation, destruction and injury. Multiple police officers and police dogs were injured by missiles, scavenged from the surrounding streets' urban gardens and brick walls. The windows of the mosque were smashed through, whilst 8 people were inside, terrified. I found myself at the scene in order to take my brother to a safe place as he lives just a street away from the riot's location on St Luke's Road, Southport. Having seen the smoke billowing across the sky from my house, I wasn't sure what to expect. I set up my camera with aperture priority at F8 and autofocus (eye priority) to enable me to point and shoot, and a high ISO (1000) to compensate for the setting sun. The violence had descended rapidly. As I managed to make my way through the crowds of rioters and police, I was struck by a few officers without riot protection who had become embroiled in the centre of the conflict. With their faces visible by lack of helmets and visors, and against the mass of masked faces on both sides, these police officers stood out as human. In these officers' unprotected faces, officers who, just 24 hours before may have been first responders at the scene following the horrific murders, I found an opportunity to capture their defiance and bravery, and their stoicism against the masked faces of violence. I was able to capture a series of portraits before the volley of bricks intensified again. The murder of three young girls and this riot in Southport, triggered a week of national violence targeting immigration centres, migrant housing and Muslim places of worship. Previously unknown to the greater British community, Southport will be forever associated with the violence , racism and riots of summer 2024. My hope is that I was able to capture a glimpse of humanity within the chaos.

Photographer

Jack Heathcote

Social Media

Instagram: photo_heathcote

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