Her mother's embrace

Teressa Raiford is embraced by her mother, Tieleen Freeman, who led a prayer for justice while standing outside the courtroom, before taking a seat in the gallery with thirty-nine others. Today is the first day of Teressa’s trial, following her arrest on August 9, 2015, for leading an event in memory of Michael Brown, who was killed by police in Ferguson, Missouri on August 9, 2014. About sixty of those in Portland who are troubled by militarized police and by racial profiling showed up to support Teressa in the the (dark) hallway outside the courtroom, but only forty were allowed into the room as observers. 

I was present at the August 9 event, making photographs, and I have offered to be one of her witnesses. If I am called, it won’t be till later this week, as the prosecution will present its case first. Excellent background coverage on racist policing in the USA and the specifics of the Michael Brown case appears here, for those who would like to know more. 


The Extra of Teressa and her mother was taken in the hallway outside the courtroom.