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Post photographer looks back at the former Occupy City Hall encampment

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Stephen Yang
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Jul 24, 2020

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"George Floyd died on TV. I realized at 56 years old, as a black man, that my life matters and I need to be heard and so that's why I'm here. My life will never be the same again. We've gotten a lot done but we have a long, long way to go," said David Terry, 56, of Harlem, who has been homeless for six years, on July 13, 2020.
“George Floyd died on TV. I realized at 56 years old, as a black man, that my life matters and I need to be heard and so that’s why I’m here. My life will never be the same again. We’ve gotten a lot done but we have a long, long way to go,” said David Terry, 56, of Harlem, who has been homeless for six years, on July 13, 2020. Stephen Yang

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Obama (nee Jamal Salaam), has been sleeping in the park for eight days. "I have no political agenda, I came here basically to sleep. I don't consider myself homeless, I'm an urban survivor. We are witnessing a new history, a new beginning–it's social reconstruction after [COVID-19], after these protests, we aren't going back to yesterday, we are going into tomorrow."
“I have no political agenda, I came here basically to sleep. I don’t consider myself homeless, I’m an urban survivor,” said Obama (nee Jamal Salaam). “We are witnessing a new history, a new beginning – it’s social reconstruction after [COVID-19], after these protests, we aren’t going back to yesterday – we are going into tomorrow.” Stephen Yang

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Rebecca Bulnes, 24, of Miami, Florida, a volunteer and facilitator of the camp. "I was laid off when the protests started and one night I ended up here I thought this was a cool different form of protest," says Bulnes, who has lived in NYC for two years. "As a community, how can we come together to figure out what we stand for? What is acceptable and what is unacceptable?"
Rebecca Bulnes, 24, of Miami, Florida, a volunteer and facilitator of the camp. “I was laid off when the protests started and one night I ended up here I thought this was a cool different form of protest,” said Bulnes, who has lived in NYC for two years. “As a community, how can we come together to figure out what we stand for? What is acceptable and what is unacceptable?” Stephen Yang

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Joshua Smith, 40, from East Flatbush, Brooklyn. "Not all cops are bad, but too many black lives have been taken by the police, not just black lives, all lives matter, but we are the ones who are most targeted," said Smith. "We're tired of being killed we're tired of being brutalized by the system."
Joshua Smith, 40, from East Flatbush, Brooklyn. “Not all cops are bad, but too many black lives have been taken by the police, not just black lives, all lives matter, but we are the ones who are most targeted,” said Smith. “We’re tired of being killed we’re tired of being brutalized by the system.” Stephen Yang

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"I'm from Brooklyn, but I ended up living most of my life upstate in the Department of Corrections," says Luis de Jesus, aka Joker of NYC, 38, from Williamsburg, Brooklyn. "I spent 21 years in prison, but that's all behind me now. I got myself five years clean off heroin now. But I got laid off – so I'm here now. All matters matter, I don't believe in colors."
“I’m from Brooklyn, but I ended up living most of my life upstate in the Department of Corrections,” said Luis de Jesus, aka Joker of NYC, 38, from Williamsburg, Brooklyn on July 12, 2020. “I spent 21 years in prison, but that’s all behind me now. I got myself five years clean off heroin now. But I got laid off – so I’m here now. All matters matter, I don’t believe in colors.” Stephen Yang

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People occupy City Hall Park to call for funding cuts to the NYPD on June 24, 2020.
People occupy City Hall Park to call for funding cuts to the NYPD on June 24, 2020. The encampment and protesters were removed early in the morning by the NYPD on July 22, 2020. Stephen Yang

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A Muslim prayer group during Occupy City Hall on June 26, 2020.
A Muslim prayer group at Occupy City Hall on June 26, 2020. Stephen Yang

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Rain falls on protestors at Occupy City Hall on June 27, 2020.
Protestors braved the bad weather and rain during Occupy City Hall on June 27, 2020. Stephen Yang

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Two men speak in front of a portrait of George Floyd, who was killed by police in Minneapolis, at the Occupy City Hall camp on July 13, 2020.
Two men speak in front of a portrait of George Floyd, who was killed by police in Minneapolis, at the Occupy City Hall camp on July 13, 2020. Stephen Yang

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Enilda, 29, left, and Ade, right, at Occupy City Hall on July 17, 2020.
Enilda, 29, left, and Ade, right, at Occupy City Hall on July 17, 2020. “I work three jobs. I sleep here, wake up, feed the people, rush home, shower, get ready for work, get to work, do my 9-10 hours,” said Enilda. “I don’t have a lot of time. My life was already stressful before all this, but [that’s] just who I am as a person – how could I not be a part of this change? Understanding that my purpose in life is to leave this place a better place. I do not want to live with the regret of not taking the initiative of making change.” Stephen Yang

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Protestors danced at Occupy City Hall Park to call for defunding the NYPD on June 25, 2020. Many are camped out, distributed food and supplies similar to 2011's Occupy Wall Street.
Protestors danced at Occupy City Hall Park to call for defunding the NYPD on June 25, 2020. Many camped out, distributed food and supplies similar to 2011’s Occupy Wall Street. Stephen Yang

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Charon stays at Occupy City Hall to support the Black Lives Matter movement on June 26, 2020.
Charon posed for a portrait at Occupy City Hall to support the Black Lives Matter movement on June 26, 2020. Stephen Yang

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“I made gift bags for everybody, so they had watches, urban hydration, face products, just things people would need and I was passing them out to hundreds of people," says Jason C. Peters, 37, a fashion designer, at Occupy City Hall on June 26, 2020. "When I went there were a couple hundreds, now there are thousands."
“I made gift bags for everybody, so they had watches, urban hydration, face products, just things people would need and I was passing them out to hundreds of people,” said Jason C. Peters, 37, a fashion designer, at Occupy City Hall on June 26, 2020. “When I went there were a couple hundred, now there are thousands.” Stephen Yang

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Richard Moses, 49, from East Harlem, has been living in the park for a week and a half on July 12, 2020. Moses says he was friends with Eric Garner. "All lives matter to me. I've been around racism all my life. I lived in Jersey where I was the darkest person on earth and I'm Samoan and Sicilian. I've dealt with racism all my life."
Richard Moses, 49, from East Harlem, on July 12, 2020. Moses said he was friends with Eric Garner, who was killed by police on Staten Island in 2014. “All lives matter to me. I’ve been around racism all my life. I lived in Jersey where I was the darkest person on earth and I’m Samoan and Sicilian. I’ve dealt with racism all my life.” Stephen Yang

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Tea Rose Pankey, 27, preschool teacher who moved to NYC from Missouri, came to stay with Occupy City Hall to learn more about Black Lives Matter and to support the movement. "I came to listen and to learn. I really just want to be in support. I definitely believe in the defunding of the police – I mean they’re only asking for a billion dollars it’s not like they’re saying: "Abolish the entire police right now." They’re literally asking for less than a fifth of their current budget."
Tea Rose Pankey, 27, preschool teacher who moved to NYC from Missouri, camped at Occupy City Hall to learn more about Black Lives Matter and to support the movement. “I came to listen and to learn. I really just want to be in support,” said Pankey. “I definitely believe in the defunding of the police – I mean they’re only asking for a billion dollars it’s not like they’re saying: “Abolish the entire police right now.” They’re literally asking for less than a fifth of their current budget.” Stephen Yang

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David Thompson, 40, a former Blood gang member, spent 16 years in prison. "Being called an [N-word] while being thrown down a flight of steps in Elmira Correctional Facility by a bunch of white men, thinking I'm going to lose my life – it set me against the police," explains Thompson. "I was brought up under the [Black] Panther movement. I'm not gonna allow the cops to come in here and pound on that man or that woman, I have a duty as an enforcer, to protect the people against any kind of harm."
David Thompson, 40, a former Bloods gang member, spent 16 years in prison. “Being called an [N-word] while being thrown down a flight of steps in Elmira Correctional Facility by a bunch of white men, thinking I’m going to lose my life – it set me against the police,” explained Thompson. “I was brought up under the [Black] Panther movement. I’m not gonna allow the cops to come in here and pound on that man or that woman, I have a duty as an enforcer, to protect the people against any kind of harm.” Stephen Yang

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A police sergeant speaks to a homeless man on the steps of Surrogates' court across the street from Occupy City Hall, where a group of Black Lives Matter protesters have gathered to protest police brutality and racial injustice on July 12, 2020.
A police sergeant speaks to a homeless man on the steps of Surrogates’ Court across the street from Occupy City Hall, where a group of Black Lives Matter protesters have gathered to protest police brutality and racial injustice, on July 12, 2020. Stephen Yang

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Liana Rebollos, 23, who has been protesting for months and has slept at Occupy City Hall park, is in support of defunding the NYPD.
Liana Rebollos, 23, who protested for months and slept at Occupy City Hall park, is in support of defunding the NYPD. Stephen Yang

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Jasmine Smith, 25, sits in the park in support of defunding the NYPD on June 24, 2020.
Jasmine Smith, 25, sits in the City Hall park in support of defunding the NYPD on June 24, 2020. Stephen Yang

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Supplies are distributed during Occupy City Hall Park on June 24, 2020.
Supplies are distributed during Occupy City Hall Park on June 24, 2020. Stephen Yang

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Signs, banners and flags are hung at Occupy City Hall as rain falls on June 27, 2020.
Signs, banners and flags are displayed at Occupy City Hall as rain falls on June 27, 2020. Stephen Yang

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Occupier Elaine Renee, 23, at City Hall Park on June 24, 2020.
Occupier Elaine Renee, 23, at City Hall Park on June 24, 2020. During Occupy City Hall a group of Black Lives Matter protesters gathered to protest police brutality and racial injustice. Homeless people were also welcomed by organizers. Stephen Yang

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"My favorite part of Abolition Park is that it serves as a refuge for those without a place to go," says Cai on July 17, 2020. "All around the city, and the country, there is a culture of "...if you don’t have money you shouldn’t exist." The park is the opposite of that, we’re saying if you don’t have money that’s okay – we’re still going to treat you like a human."
“My favorite part of Abolition Park is that it serves as a refuge for those without a place to go,” said Cai on July 17, 2020. “All around the city, and the country, there is a culture of “…if you don’t have money you shouldn’t exist.” The park is the opposite of that, we’re saying if you don’t have money that’s okay – we’re still going to treat you like a human.” Stephen Yang

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"The cops are watching us, so we are trying to teach them how to be better," said Tyrrell Harper, 38, from Asbury Park, NJ, on July 17, 2020. "We have certain rules here, we want people to follow a certain code and we're showing you how to do that without breaking things up, sending people to jail. We're pushing Black Lives Matter because that's what counts, but it's for everybody."
“The cops are watching us, so we are trying to teach them how to be better,” said Tyrrell Harper, 38, from Asbury Park, NJ, on July 17, 2020. “We have certain rules here, we want people to follow a certain code and we’re showing you how to do that without breaking things up, sending people to jail. We’re pushing Black Lives Matter because that’s what counts, but it’s for everybody.” Stephen Yang

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"Who protects us? We protests us. Who protects the people? We protect the people. This is the beginning of a revolution in order to erect change," said Kannon, 54, from the Bronx. "This country was founded on revolution. Until they give us [the] change that we asked for, we’re going to be here."
“Who protects us? We protect us. Who protects the people? We protect the people. This is the beginning of a revolution in order to erect change,” said Kannon, 54, from the Bronx. “This country was founded on revolution. Until they give us change that we asked for – we’re going to be here.” Stephen Yang

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"How are you going to talk about black lives matter, but then turn your nose up at one of the black lives that needs our help the most? Which are the mentally ill, the [transgender], or the houseless - those are the people who need the most help," said Xavier Penagos, 30, from the Bronx, on July 17, 2020. "You can't say you want to change the world and not change yourself. "
“How are you going to talk about black lives matter, but then turn your nose up at one of the black lives that needs our help the most? Which are the mentally ill, the [transgender], or the houseless – those are the people who need the most help,” said Xavier Penagos, 30, from the Bronx, on July 17, 2020. “You can’t say you want to change the world and not change yourself. ” Stephen Yang

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People gathered at Occupy City Hall to support the Black Lives Matter movement and to defund the NYPD on June 26, 2020.
People gathered at Occupy City Hall to support the Black Lives Matter movement and to defund the NYPD on June 26, 2020. Stephen Yang

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Workers remove graffiti at the site of Occupy City Hall after the camp and protesters were removed early in the morning by the NYPD on July 22, 2020.
Workers removed graffiti at the site of Occupy City Hall after the camp and protesters were forced out early in the morning by the NYPD on July 22, 2020. Stephen Yang

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