First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Barbara J. Perenic / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”STORY SUMMARY: Following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, protests erupted across the globe calling for an end to police brutality and racial justice. In Columbus, Ohio, protesters came downtown in the days after Floyd’s death, pleading for accountability and demanding change from the local police department, which has had several police-involved shootings of Black men. Clashes with police were common in the first few days of the protests. The crowds continued to grow and remained largely peaceful in the weeks that followed as protesters worked for change through the summer. Near the end of the year, two Black men, Andre Hill and Casey Goodson, were both killed by Columbus Police offiers in seperate incidents. As their lives were mourned, the push for racial equality continued in our city. CAPTION: More than 300 protesters outraged over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis refused to vacate the roadway at Broad and High streets in downtown Columbus on Thursday, May 28, 2020. Columbus police used pepper spray to disperse protesters after some threw plastic bottles of water, smoke bombs and other items at police. Windows at the Statehouse and in bus stations along High Street were shattered, trash cans were tossed and decorative planters wrecked in the chaos.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”A protester walks down Broad Street as Columbus Division of Police officers walk behind during nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd on Friday, May 29, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was killed while in police custody after allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store. Derek Chauvin, one of four Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd's arrest, has himself been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. During the arrest, video footage showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes as Floyd repeatedly said "I can't breathe."
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Graffiti is seen on a statue of President William McKinley outside the Ohio Statehouse as protests continue following the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd on Saturday, May 30, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Kyle Robertson / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin, Congresswomen Joyce Beatty and Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce try to intervene as Columbus Police use pepper spraying on protesters during a protest at on South High Street near the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio in May 30, 2020.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Barbara J. Perenic / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”A man who was pepper sprayed receives assistance from a street medic as hundreds of people continued to clash with police on the third day of protests in downtown Columbus on Saturday, May 28, 2020.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”A man watches as a pile of wooden pallets burn after unknown persons set fire to them as protests continue following the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd on Saturday, May 30, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”A young woman links arms with two men as they protest along High Street following the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd on Monday, June 1, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed while in police custody after allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a conveinence store. Derek Chauvin, one of four Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd's arrest, has himself been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. During the arrest, video footage showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes as Floyd repeatedly said "I can't breathe."
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Ebri Yahloe chants "No Justice, No Peace" while sitting along High Street with thousands of others as nationwide protests continue following the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd on Monday, June 1, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”A cardboard sign with names of individuals from across the country who have died at the hands of police are seen on a sign as protests continue following the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd on Monday, June 1, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Protesters yell at Columbus Police during a peaceful protest for George Floyd in downtown Columbus on Monday, June 1, 2020.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Demonstrators march past the Ohio Statehouse during a peaceful protest for George Floyd in downtown Columbus on Tuesday, June 2, 2020.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”A 20-year-old protester from the West Side holds a sign that says "justice" as they march north on High Street during a peaceful protest for George Floyd in downtown Columbus on Tuesday, June 2, 2020.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Hundreds of demonstrators march down Broad Street during a George Floyd protest in Columbus on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”A family holds their hands up as demonstrators march past them in the King-Lincoln District during a George Floyd protest in Columbus on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Courtney Hergesheimer / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”George White, left, is moved to tears and comforted by Shane Ross, middle and Deja Jordan, right, during the song "lean on me" in front of the state house in Downtown Columbus, on day eight of protests against the killing of George Floyd, Thursday, June 4, 2020.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Daniel Crumpler, 26, of Linden yells to a crows blocking High Street in front of the Ohio Statehouse during a protest for racial justice Downtown on Thursday, June 4, 2020.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Naasia Starks, 26, sits on the hood of her car with her fist raised as demonstrators take to the street during a protest for racial equality and justice in the wake of George Floyd's death in front of the Ohio Statehouse shortly before the 10 p.m. curfew in Columbus on Thursday, June 4, 2020.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Courtney Hergesheimer / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Doctors, nurses, medical students, and staff take a knee for eight minuets and 46 seconds, in front of the James Cancer Hospital, in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, Friday, June 5, 2020.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Demonstrators take to the street on foot and in cars during a protest for racial equality and justice in the wake of George Floyd's death in front of the Ohio Statehouse shortly before the 10 p.m. curfew in Columbus on Thursday, June 4, 2020.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Thousands of people march from the Ohio Statehouse through the Short North during a protest for racial equality in Downtown Columbus on Friday, June 5, 2020.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”James Bosley of the North Side records a video for a song about his brother, Johnwta Bosley who was killed by police in 2011, during a protest for racial equality in Downtown Columbus on Friday, June 5, 2020.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Eric Albrecht / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Demonstrators lie on the ground for eight minutes and forty-six seconds, the amount of time that George Floyd was pinned to the ground by a Minneapolis police officer before his death, during a protest in front of the Statehouse June 6, 2020.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Barbara J. Perenic / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”A woman views the murals which were painted over plywood on the front of the Huntington Bank building across from the Ohio Statehouse in downtown Columbus on Sunday, June 7, 2020.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Courtney Hergesheimer / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Around 100 protesters march across the Rich Street Bridge into Downtown Columbus from Franklinton, in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, Monday, June 8 , 2020, the 12th day in a row of protests against the death of George Floyd.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Courtney Hergesheimer / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Protestors celebrate after painting"Black Lives Matter" on the sidewalk on High St. in front of the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Wednesday, June 10, 2020.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Eric Albrecht/Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Tammy Fournier with the Peoples Justice Project steps behind the police caution tape to protest against the police in front of a crowd of several hundred people at the Columbus Police Station in Columbus June 13, 2020. The protestors met at the Statehouse and marched to the police station.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Eric Albrecht/Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Hundreds of beach balls are placed on the Statehouse lawn June 13, 2020 as part of the #stolenjoy project, each ball represents a person under 21 who died in a interaction with police.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Courtney Hergesheimer / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”A small group of protestors painted red hands on the Ohio Statehouse, to signify the blood on police hands, they said, Thursday, June 18, 2020.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Courtney Hergesheimer / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Fireworks were set off on High St. during a celebration of Juneteenth in front of the Statehouse, Friday, June 19, 2020. Demonstrators, blocked off High St. at Broad and State streets. "Juneteenth 2020, were making history!" DJ Polomoe shouted over the mic.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Fred Squillante / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Black Lives Matter protesters blocked the northbound lanes of S. High St. in front of the Ohio Statehouse during a protest on Friday, July 31, 2020. Several protesters were arrested, including Sierra Mason of Canton.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Joshua A. Bickel / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Flowers and candles sit at a memorial for Breonna Taylor on Friday, Sept. 25, 2020 at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, was killed while sleeping in her home by Louisville Metro police officers in March 2020. The Kentucky attorney general recently released the findings of a grand jury, who charged just one of the three officers involved, Brett Hankison, with wanton endangerment for shots fired through Taylor's walls and into the neighboring apartment. No charges relating to Taylor's death were filed.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gaelen Morse / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”A vigil is held for Breonna Taylor at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus on Sept. 25, 2020, two days after a grand jury did not bring charges against the two officers who shot and killed Taylor in her home in Louisville, Ky., last March.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”Tyler Darling waves a Black Lives Matter flag among motorcycle tire smoke on High Street during a rally that started at the Franklin County Sheriff's Office building in Downtown Columbus on December 11, 2020. Over 500 protesters demanding justice for Casey Goodson Jr. marched around downtown on the evening. One week ago, on Dec. 4, sheriff's SWAT deputy Jason Meade fatally shot 23-year-old Goodson, a Black man, at his home in the Northland neighborhood on the city's Northeast Side.
First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - / The Columbus Dispatch, “Political Climate of Southeast Ohio”A vigil is held for Andre’ Hill at Brentnell Community Recreation Center on Dec. 26, 2020.
