USA. Alabama. Birmingham. 1963. Arrest of a demonstrator. “Damn the Defiant!” taken by Bruce Davidson.
The Birmingham campaign took place in 1963 in which African-Americans, mainly students, demonstrated to shed light to the discriminations they face within the city. Birmingham, Alabama was considered one of the most segregated communities in America provoking a nonviolent protest in which white civic authorities responded brutally. Mass arrests took place leading to civil unrest. Although most of the demonstrators were nonviolent, violence eventually did ensue started by the Birmingham Police Department who was ordered to unleash high-pressure water hoses and police attack dogs on the students. This picture illustrates one of the many students that fought for their rights that day. What makes this photo particularly eye-catching is the juxtaposition and irony of the sign behind the subject(s) that reads: ‘ Suspense! Excitement! Susan Hayward’s “Back Street” and “Damn the Defiant” ‘. Just by looking at the demonstrator’s face tells the onlooker that she is determined yet fearful of her current situation as many of the student’s were during the movement. However, the movie theater background and the headline makes it seem less of reality to the people observing this on the newspaper or even to the police officers as they drag her away. It seems far removed, yet heart pounding as if it was a movie, but it is sad reality that these young people at the time had to face cruel measures to obtain the rights that they should have had a long time before.