Crowd holding protest signs and flags, including an American flag and a Trump-themed sign, on a rainy city street with tall buildings.
A group of protesters holding signs criticizing Fox News and Donald Trump during a demonstration.
Person wearing a Trump mask, dressed in a suit with a red tie, standing outside in front of the White House with barriers around, appearing to adjust the mask.
Protesters holding signs at an outdoor demonstration, with trees and tall buildings in the background. One sign depicts a crossed-out crown, and another shows three figures covering their eyes, ears, and mouth, with the phrases "See no crimes," "Hear
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Person speaking into a megaphone at a crowded street protest.
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Protest on a city street with police officers and demonstrators holding signs that read 'These cuts will bleed!' amidst tall buildings.
People participating in a protest or rally, many wearing crowns labeled 'NOPE!' or 'WINGS!', holding American flags, with signs that include 'DEPORT TRUMP', on a city street under a covered area.
Protest signs and posters on the street with people holding signs, some wearing masks and rain gear, during a protest against a perceived threat from non-American entities and advocating for social justice.
A man holding a sign with a hand showing the middle finger and the words 'Diaper Don Salutes Humanity' is confronting three police officers in uniform during a rainy day.
Protesters standing on scaffolding, one woman waving an American flag, another woman holding a sign that says 'F*** Trump', in a city street.
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People standing in line in Times Square, New York City, with bright billboards and digital screens in the background. A person dressed as Elmo from Sesame Street is on the left side of the image. A man holding up a sign with written text is in the ce
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Protesters marching in the rain holding signs and umbrellas, some wearing patriotic and political clothing, with a woman in the foreground speaking into a megaphone, wrapped in an American flag, during a demonstration.
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A woman sitting on a white chair under a tree in front of a brick building, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a black dress, with two small white chairs beside her and a sign that reads 'Black Lives Matter' hanging on a wire.
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Crowd of people walking in Times Square, New York City, with bright billboards and neon signs. A prominent sign in the center reads 'On YouTube Spirit Guides are Demons'.
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A man wearing a purple 'Seize the Moment to Harris' T-shirt and holding a megaphone speaking to another person at a march or rally in a city park with tall buildings in the background.
Protesters marching with signs advocating for healthcare funding and addressing economic inequality, including a woman and a girl holding signs on a city street.
Police officers and protesters marching in a demonstration, holding signs and banners, with a crowd and trees in the background.
Man speaking into a megaphone on city sidewalk, with pedestrians in the background.
A protest march on a city street with numerous participants, some holding signs and flags, with police officers nearby and yellow taxis on the side.
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A man sitting behind a fence with two signs, one reading 'Stop Hating Each Other Because You Disagree,' and another 'Restricted Area Do Not Enter.'

Free Speech

When I was in middle school, Donald Trump was elected for his first term in office. I remember the morning after election day; my dad was talking about his upset over the results. As a twelve-year-old, I was fed up with the discourse already. I turned to my dad and said, “I know we don’t like him, but he’s the president now. There’s nothing we can do. Why can’t we just all accept it and move on?” I credit my parents for a lot of my formative experiences, but this moment shaped how I see the world so deeply that I believe it is the reason I am who I am. My dad explained that we can accept, but moving on is not something a lot of people can afford. If we do not continue to express our disagreement, we facilitate the weaponization of prejudice and ignorance that the Trump administration stands for. 

This project is a photographic essay on free speech in America. In this country, we take great pride in our personal liberties as protected by the constitution, including the freedom of speech. Over the past four months, I have been documenting the different ways people exercise such rights here in New York City and Washington DC. I attended national protests, weekly gatherings, and found people standing solitary on street corners. This project explores a society that is grasping for any sense of control they can find in a tumultuous political climate as we navigate through unprecedented times.