William McKinley Monument, Black Lives Matter

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Here is a portion of the William McKinley monument found outside the west side of the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. Nationwide protests sparked by George Floyd's death spread to Columbus, usually centered around the Statehouse. I wanted to capture this moment: with puddles of milk from washing away pepper spray, soap for rinsing off tear gas, and snacks/water to fuel the protesters. I know that the monument will eventually be restored to its original state without graffiti. The messages scrawled on it are significant, and hopefully they will be remembered in America's history alongside William McKinley's words. They were written, spoken, and chanted by Americans demanding a safer and more just country for all citizens in the face of violent systemic oppression. Black Lives Matter. Support BLM here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019