Americans have been shocked by the stream of visual information that has flooded the news and social media over the past year. We have also witnessed the deplorable treatment of many journalists covering these events. In this episode, we’ll hear from Carolyn Cole, a photojournalist with the Los Angeles Times whose archive is part of the Briscoe Center’s collections. Despite her lengthy experience working in combat zones, she didn’t expect to be targeted as a journalist in her own country. In June 2020, Cole was temporarily blinded with Mace when she covered the “Black Lives Matter” protests in Minneapolis following the vicious murder of George Floyd. In this episode, she discusses the Minneapolis protests, the importance of portraying the human cost of conflict, and her conscious effort to record history.
Carolyn is interviewed by Alison Beck, the center’s director for special projects, and Ben Wright, the center’s former associate director for communications.
Below are a selection of photographs taken from Cole’s work covering the Minneapolis protests.
This episode of American Rhapsody was mixed and mastered by Sofia Salter and Morgan Honaker.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA —MAY 29, 2020—Minnesota State Patrol officers spray journalists with pepper spray and fire rubber bullets while they are working, despite their exemption from the curfew on Saturday. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 
Minnesota State Patrol officers clash with journalists covering the protests in response to the death of George Floyd. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 
Despite a curfew, protests and looting went all throughout the night in various parts of Minneapolis in response to the death of George Floyd. There were too many fires for firemen to put out. Protesting continues for a third day in response to the death of George Floyd. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA—MAY 29, 2020—The National Guard stands by to protect firemen working to extinguish a fire started by looters at a gas station on Friday night, May 29, 2020, in Minneapolis, MN. For the past three days protesting and looting have gone on in response to the death of George Floyd. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times) 
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA —MAY 29, 2020—One woman expresses her desire for peace and love. Despite a curfew, protests and looting went all throughout the night in various parts of the city of Minneapolis on Friday night, May 29, 2020. . There were too many fires for firemen to put out on Friday night, May 29, 2020. Protesting continues for a third day in response to the death of George Floyd. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)