I was finishing up a meal with a friend on Bleeker St. in Greenwich Village when all of a sudden a squadron of police vans dashed by. I had my camera with me since earlier I had been doing some street photography, and I followed them into Washington Square Park.

When I got there I found a BLM art protest in progress. Easels were set up with kids drawing, there was rap music, dancing, flags, and a DJ.

Within five minutes, on the dot of 7:30 pm, the cops swooped. In full riot grear they manhandled the crowd, knocking me over in the process. $2,000 worth of camera gear around my neck, fortunately I managed to fall underneath the camera, though lenses from my bag went flying.

Then when I stood up, I realized that I was in the decisive moment.