The Occupy Portraits: A Photo Essay

seattle, washington 20-21 January 2012 I arrived in Seattle on time for the parade marking the date two years ago when the Su- preme Court of the United States of America made their disastrous mistake with their vote to change the constitution in a way that allows corporations the same rights and status of an individual, thus placing our politicians and our government for sale to the highest bidder - a mistake that one-day soon will be corrected. The enthusiastic crowd was filled with young and those who have been young for longer, with employed and unemployed and under-em- ployed, with housed and houseless, and with every color in the spectrum. I made a portrait of famed activist Dorli Rainey, who at the age of 85 was pepper sprayed during a peaceful Occupy protest a month ago. We walked the parade route together up and down the hills of Seattle to the Federal Courthouse where the 100 foot long banner of the constitution was un- furled for people to add their signatures. “I am sorry that you were pepper sprayed Dorli.” “I’m not,” she shot back. Later I discovered she’s started a nationwide campaign to make use of pepper spray illegal. Afterward a ride from an activist to the airport for a midnight flight to New York. “Thanks for going out of your way to give me a ride.” As I closed the door of her truck she responded, “we take care of our own.” Steadily learning about warmth on this journey. How to wrap my scarf to avoid tangling with my camera strap...how to place a plastic bag around my socks when my waterproof boots get wet... and the warm feeling of welcome by a complete stranger giving me keys to her apartment in the name of helping my work toward sharing a glimpse of the Occupy community.