My protest photography usually takes place at environmental or progressive events. So attending the farmers’ protest on 19/11/2024 was a different experience. The star guests were Nigel Farage and Jeremy Clarkson.
I went as a photojournalist, to record what I saw. There was a lot of anger out there. This young man was leading chants. His complaints about the plight of farmers merged into complaints about loss of freedom, an antagonistic government and dark forces that threatened us all. I am sympathetic to the situation of farmers, but I wouldn’t wish to amplify some of the stuff he was talking about.
These are difficult times. We live in a complex world, where bad actors use simplistic solutions to try and divide one group from another. The complexity has to be embraced because it is real. But rather than simply blaming others for our situation, bridges need to be built and cooperation has to be encouraged. Environmental campaigners need to talk to farmers and build a mutual understanding of how threats can be addressed. Together we are better.
