Archive for 2011
Seeing Double Yellow
Badly painted double yellow line parking restrictions. Bizarre London road markings in a space not big enough for a car.
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
SlutWalk
SlutWalk London. Women and men march through London against rape and violence towards women.
The protests began in January 2011 when a representative of the Toronto police stated to students: “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized”
See web gallery here
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
Red Arrows
Red Arrows – the RAF’s aerobatic display team, perform a fly past for the Trooping the Colour. Nelson’s Column, Trafalgar Square. London.
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
Insert Coin – We are Hungry
Web gallery of (belated) images during the Democracia Real Ya protests in Puerta del Sol, Madrid, Spain.
Web Gallery here
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
Obama UK Visit
US President Barack Obama arrives at Number 10 Downing street to be greeted by Prime Minister David Cameron (reflected in door) during a State visit. London.
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
La Crisis Es El Capitalismo
Mass meeting in Puerta del Sol in defiance of a government ban of protests on the day of the local and regional elections. They are demonstrating about austerity measures, have renamed place “Plaza Solución” and are calling it the Spanish Revolution. Madrid, Spain.
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
A Year on The Sauce
A Year on The Sauce, by Brendan Montague.
Cover pic © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk.
Blood on his hands and in a mock prison cell. Stop the War demonstrators dress in Blair mask as Tony Blair arrives to give testimony to the Chilcot enquiry into the Iraq war. Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre. London.
Book available from Amazon
Plaza Solución
Thousands of young people gather in Puerta del Sol in defiance of a government ban of protests. They are demonstrating about austerity measures, have renamed the place “Plaza Solución”and are calling it the Spanish Revolution. Madrid, Spain.
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
Do You Feel Lonely?
6.8 Million people live alone in England. Do you feel Lonely? Graffiti on a derelict building in Liverpool.
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
Whitby Abbey
Whitby Abbey, a ruined Benedictine abbey overlooking the North Sea on the East Cliff above Whitby in North Yorkshire, England.
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
Texting A Revolution
Battle for Cairo. Pro Mubarak supporters send in men armed with clubs on horses and camels but are quickly forced to retreat from anti Mubarak protesters in a bloody running battle outside the Cairo Museum, near Al-Tahrir (Liberation Square), Cairo, Egypt. © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
The uprising in Egypt had its organisational base in social media, in Facebook, Twitter and texting. It was this ability that the government shut down, mobile phone signals blocked and internet disabled to try and prevent the masses from communicating, organising and expressing their anger against a a brutal regime on the streets – they failed.
When a journalist colleague left Cairo I was asked to send in text reports to a British newspaper.
The transcript below are the text messages I sent on what was dubbed, The Battle for Cairo, or the Day of the Camels, where the Egyptian people fought heroically all through the day and night, at great personal cost against Mubarak’s armed men to defend Tahrir Square and the revolution.
Images available from www.reportdigital.co.uk
The Battle for Cairo
2 Feb 2011 10.46
Pro Mubarak supporters are massing outside the TV Station. Situation very tense, much hostility to westerners. Anti Mubarak protesters holding the square fear an attack by what they estimate will be 25,000 pro regime supporters. Weapons have been found on the checkpoints.
2 Feb 2011 11.48
Pro Mubarak supporters have marched up from the TV station past the army tanks outside the museum towards Tahrir Square, 10,000 so far.
2 Feb 2011 12.13
People are being caught and bludgeoned by pro Mubarak protesters outside museum.
2 Feb 2011 12.31
Street fighting between both groups rocks thrown, pro Mubarak demonstrators pushed out of square, now advancing. Army doing nothing.
Pro supporters pushed back, hiding behind tanks by anti Mubarak people throwing stones defending square.
Raining stones, people appealing for calm.
2 Feb 2011 12.49
Pro’s advancing towards square again.
2 Feb 2011 13.01
Pros charge with horses and camels (!) carrying clubs but beaten back with a hail of stones.
Anti’s push back the pro Mubarak supporters beyond museum, celebrate on top of tanks. Stones covering floor, people injured, being carried away.
2 Feb 2011 13.21
People break rocks on tanks, media seem to have control of one tank..riot could go on for some time.
2 Feb 2011 13.34
Army soldier beaten by protesters for taking a TV camera.
Army giving amnesty to pro Mubarak supporters in museum. Anti Mubarak protesters still control the street.
Machine gun fire near Hilton Hotel
2 Feb 2011 13.45
Shotgun and pistol fire.
Plain clothes police with walkie talkie inside pro Mubarak supporters. People bang on tanks, noise deafening.
2 Feb 2011 14.39
Trucks and containers dividing road as barricade.
2 Feb 2011 15.03
Many head injuries on anti Mubarak from masonry, chairs and slates thrown from roof tops. Still holding ground.
National democracy party cards been found on pro Mubarak supporters.
Gun shots near river Nile.
2 Feb 2011 15.20
Massive rock breaking operation, women also on frontline. Pro Mubarak supporters with guns have been caught and handed over to army.
ID with no job title have been found by anti Mubarak protesters. They think that the pro demo is full of police.
2 Feb 2011 15.38
Children help collect rocks.
This is a battle for Cairo, no end in sight.
More shotgun fire from pro Mubarak side.
2 Feb 2011 16.02
It’s dusk both lines are holding, army doing nothing. Tanks and armoured personal carriers litter the street. Tanks are supplied rocks in bread baskets where they are thrown at the pro Mubarak side. Women bang railings to make large drum sounds..more gun fire..
More machine gun fire.
2 Feb 2011 16.42
Rugs full of stones being carried to the front line, people wearing cardboard and coats to protect heads.
People say they are fighting for freedom and their children’s futures.
2 Feb 2011 17.31
Big explosion.
Person brought out on a makeshift stretcher.
Two explosions.
2 Feb 2011 17.45
Cairo Tower lights have gone out.
2 Feb 2011 18.13
Strange rhythmic drumming accompanying the revolution, every bit of metal is being drummed, drowning out every other sound.
2 Feb 2011 18.42
More gunfire, air filled with dust and smoke. People working constantly in teams to provide front line with stones as ammunition.
2 Feb 2011 19.06
Hundreds wounded, many still on the front line with head and limbs bandaged. People carried out to a makeshift hospital in the square. Mubarak is trying to cling onto power in the bloodiest way possible.
2 Feb 2011 19.26
Thousands march in to front line on the anti Mubarak side. Mood angry and defiant.
Usama Alam, a journalist supressed under Mubarak is carried on the shoulders of protesters to the frontline.
2 Feb 2011 19.53
Pro Mubarak protesters are pushed back towards the flyover.
Teargas
2 Feb 2011 20.20
People giving out crisps and water on front line. Heavy automatic gunfire surrounds us.
2 Feb 2011 21.32
The battle continues, helicopter overhead.
2 Feb 2011 22.23
Tanks line up pointing at and moving towards Tahrir Square.
Gun turrets turned to face pro Mubarak protesters.
People applaud and plead with the soldiers.
3 Feb 2011 03.43
People line up in street for morning prayers. Ambulances arrive to collect sniper victims.
3 Feb 2011 04.55
Anti Mubarak protesters have kept control of Tahrir square.
Hundreds of anti Mubarak protesters march back victorious into Square.
Doctors and walking wounded pose for photos in front of tanks, others look exhausted.
3 Feb 2011 06.15
Walking into the square, rubble everywhere. Most people wearing head bandages, limping, wrapped in blankets. Some being treated by exhausted doctors. There is a woman speaking on a loud speaker. People smiling wearily with the victory after 11 hours of intense street fighting, with at least 1500 injured and unknown numbers killed. Just been greeted with ‘welcome to Egypt’ by a protester with a rye smile who has kept his sense of humour.
© Jess Hurd
Flashmob placards
Mini placards for the City Hall Flashmob organised by the “I’m a Photographer Not a Terrorist!” campaign. London.
Flashmob City Hall
22 April 2011
Tuesday 3rd May, World Press Freedom Day, at City Hall, London SE1 2AA at 12:30.
I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist! (PHNAT), the campaign group set up to fight unnecessary and draconian restrictions against individuals taking photographs in public spaces, is organising a flashmob outside London’s City Hall.
The event takes place on International Press Freedom Day and is supported by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) London Photographers’ Branch (LPB).
PHNAT is concerned about the role of private security guards in the prevention of terrorism. Their role has been promoted by police, with the result that many privately employed guards are illegally preventing citizens from taking any photographs at all.
Areas designated as public realm are often privately managed spaces that are subject to rules laid down by the private management companies. Most insidious of these is the outright banning of photography in some of our most widely enjoyed public spaces, such as Canary Wharf and the Thames Walk between Tower Bridge and City Hall. The mass gathering will highlight the restrictions on street photography in a public space. Photographers are encouraged to bring a tripod.
An illustrated PHNAT pamphlet will also be launched at the event. Created by PHNAT and LPB members, supported by the NUJ, British Press Photographers Association (BPPA) and the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, it will celebrate the history of the PHNAT campaign.
Join Facebook event
Follow on Twitter
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
Iranian Hunger Striker
Iranian hunger striker Kiarash Bayari, with his lips sewn together in protest against his refused asylum application. He has been tortured and faces the death penalty in Iran. Mayday protest, International Workers Day. Clerkenwell Green, London.
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
Flashmob City Hall
Flashmob City Hall
22 April 2011
Tuesday 3rd May, World Press Freedom Day, at City Hall, London SE1 2AA at 12:30.
I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist! (PHNAT), the campaign group set up to fight unnecessary and draconian restrictions against individuals taking photographs in public spaces, is organising a flashmob outside London’s City Hall.
The event takes place on International Press Freedom Day and is supported by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) London Photographers’ Branch (LPB).
PHNAT is concerned about the role of private security guards in the prevention of terrorism. Their role has been promoted by police, with the result that many privately employed guards are illegally preventing citizens from taking any photographs at all.
Areas designated as public realm are often privately managed spaces that are subject to rules laid down by the private management companies. Most insidious of these is the outright banning of photography in some of our most widely enjoyed public spaces, such as Canary Wharf and the Thames Walk between Tower Bridge and City Hall. The mass gathering will highlight the restrictions on street photography in a public space. Photographers are encouraged to bring a tripod.
An illustrated PHNAT pamphlet will also be launched at the event. Created by PHNAT and LPB members, supported by the NUJ, British Press Photographers Association (BPPA) and the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, it will celebrate the history of the PHNAT campaign.
Join Facebook event
Follow on Twitter
Fair Pay for Royal Cleaners
Fair pay for Royal cleaners. PCS campaign outside Buckingham Palace on the eve of the royal wedding. London.
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
Lightning Strikes Canary Wharf
Fork lightning strikes HSBC bank. Canary Wharf, London Docklands.
Images available from www.reportdigital.co.uk
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
A sad corner of St Bart’s
A hospital bed in a corridor of St Bartholomew’s - Barts and the London NHS Trust, London.
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
Gay Kiss-In
Hundreds attend a Facebook organised kiss-in outside The John Snow pub after James Bull and Jonathan Williams were asked to leave on Wednesday night by a staff member who allegedly described the couple’s kissing as ‘ obscene ‘ Soho, London.
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
See web gallery here
Images available from www.reportdigital.co.uk
March for the Alternative
March for the alternative. Jobs, Growth and Justice. Organised by the TUC.
With images from Piccadilly and Trafalgar Square later in the evening.
See web gallery here
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
Referendum Vote
Egyptian student votes NO in the referendum on the constitution. Cairo, Egypt
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
Coptic Christians
Coptic Christians protest ouside the Television Centre against attacks on their community.
It is widely thought to be counter revolutionary, Mubarak supporters and members of the National Democratic Party that have been stirring up religious tensions. Cairo, Egypt
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
Women for Women
Women gather at London’s Millennium Bridge and at bridges in more than 30 other countries on International Women’s Day centenary to demand that Afghan women sit as equals at peace table and for an end to violence against them. London.
Organised by Women for Women International
Image: Peace campaigner Bianca Jagger releasing a white dove.
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
The Battle for Cairo – film/photo event
After covering the first 18-days of the Egyptian revolution, many UK photographers and video journalists have returned to London and will be screening their work in a special one night event, organised by the London Photographers’ Branch (LPB) and the British Press Photographers Association (BPPA), at the Shortwave Cinema on Tuesday 1 March 2011.
Starting at 8pm the evening will show video and photographs covering the extraordinary events that unravelled during the popular uprising against President Hosni Mubarak and his regime. There will also be a question-and-answer discussion with the photographers and video journalists who covered the uprising.
Entry is by donation and there will be a raffle to win selected prints donated by the photographers. All profits will go to the Egyptian journalist support fund.
