Palestine solidarity movement marked one year of opposition to Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza.
I took a bunch of photos, which a selection of I’m sharing below.
20th National March for Palestine
London Trans+ Pride 2024
Nothing represents the spirit of the times and the resilience of the community as acutely and accurately as the annual London Trans+ Pride. Pride is a protest! It’s always a joy to support and document this ever growing event.
Emergency Lobby of Parliament for Gaza: #CeasefireNOW
A small set of my photographs from the post lobbying rally outside the Houses of Parliament.
Ceasefire Now! Rally for Palestine
I attended the rally for ceasefire and free Palestine outside the Houses of Parliament in London.
March for Palestine in London
Today I attended and documented my first march for Palestine in London. Free Palestine, end the occupation!
London Trans+ Pride 2023
My annual report from London Trans+ Pride is here.
London Trans Pride 2022
It was my third time at London Trans Pride, and as ever, it felt important to be there and support our trans siblings. I took some photos. Thank you everyone!
No to War in Ukraine - Global Day of Action - London Demonstration
My photo story from today’s anti war protest in Central London. Stop the War in Ukraine.
Called by Stop the War & CND.
Green Party - #ProtestIsNotACrime
As the government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (the Policing Bill) reaches a crucial stage in the House of Lords, the Green Party launched a campaign to Save the Right to Protest.
Today’s protest in Westminster included speeches from Natalie Bennett, Jenny Jones, Caroline Lucas and Zack Polanski.
My photo report below.
London Trans Pride 2021
My photographic set/ report from London Trans Pride 2021.
The march, the beautiful crowd, some long not seen friends, fellow photographers at work, some wide angle situations, the streets, the speeches and as per usual, plenty of details.
Bishopsgate Institute LGBTQ+ Archives contribution
I’m excited to announce that my night life and queer movement documentary photography has been catalogued and archived by Bishopsgate Institute. The collection will be soon updated with some more of my archival club photography dating back to 2013. Bishopsgate Institute will reopen from May 17th, by appointment only.
https://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/collections/zbigniew-kotkiewicz-archive
Kill the Bill protest in Central London
I joined and documented the demonstration against the new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill*. The turn out was great and it was fantastic to see various groups and communities from across the society protesting together.
Per usual I also portrayed the presence of my fellow photographers/videographers.
*The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill proposes to give police in England and Wales more power to impose conditions on non-violent protests, including those which are deemed too noisy or a nuisance.
Strajk Kobiet/ Polish Women on Strike - demonstration outside the Polish Embassy in London
In response to Poland’s ban on abortion, people rallied in front of the Polish Embassy in London, lighting candles and chanting in a show of mass solidarity with everyone, who have been out in the Polish streets taking part in ongoing daily protests. On Friday night while we were showing our support in London, Warsaw saw the biggest demonstration since the Solidarity movement of the 1980s. Poland already has the strictest abortion law in Europe, which the ruling party wants now to take even further. An extra outrage is caused by the government’s efforts to introduce the new restrictions undemocratically, fast tracking them via Constitutional Tribunal, which recently appointed members are all the Government’s cronies. Those people not only aren’t impartial but also aren’t qualified judges and make decisions based on their personal and religious believes.
Women and their supporters are demanding reverting the oppressive and dangerous changes in law. People are also calling for the right wing government to step down and are demanding a secular state.
The London protest was intense and inspiring. Despite the fact that there were many creative and playful chants and placards, the message sent to the Polish government was clear and serious - don’t mess with us and respect women’s rights.
London Trans Pride 2020
My photo report from London Trans Pride 2020. It was beautiful and powerful, you’re all beautiful and powerful! Thank you everyone!
*Solidarity is Our Weapon* Rainbow for Poland
Once again we gathered outside the Polish Embassy in London to show our solidarity with LGBTQ+ people in Poland.
The demo was organised by FARSA Feminists Artywists Society in Action., SLAV 4 U and Polish Rainbow in UK.
I Am Human - Solidarity Action Rainbow for Poland
Today’s seen another action of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ people in Poland outside the Polish Embassy in London. The event was attended by a beautiful, diverse crowd not only expressing their messages of support for our Polish siblings but also demanding equality and respect from the Polish authorities. It was wonderful to see everyone including the organisers from Polish Rainbow in UK and FARSA and also the All Out activists. The process of consistent dehumanising of our community in the state owned and right wing Polish media caused a rapid polarisation of the Polish society and gave the religious (catholic) and conservative people a license to publicly express their hatred towards the LGBTQ+ folks. There are more and more of violent incidents and the state and church propaganda are making the situation worse. Today it was the first time when our peaceful demonstration in London was confronted by a small group of Polish nationalists who were shouting abuses towards us. The tensions and emotions run high at some point as for many of us it definitely was a trigger. Nevertheless the demo remained peaceful and retained a positive vibe. One of the aggressors, apparently representing a formal Polish right wing political party, has been eventually detained by the police and charged with hate crime.
Standing in solidarity with the arrested LGBTQ+ activists in Poland, a demo outside the Polish Embassy in London. Solidarne z Margot. Nigdy nie będziesz szła sama!
Stop bzdurom (stop the bullshit) is an anarcho-queer collective actively fighting against queer phobia in Poland. Yesterday one of the activists, Margot, has been arrested in Warsaw. 48 protesters who tried to stop the arrest have been dragged away and detained by the police. The intimidation and dehumanisation of the LGBTQ+ people in Poland continues and we are not having it! There were demonstrations organised in solidarity with the activists across Poland as well as in front of the Polish Embassy in London. Here is my photo report. Nie ma wolnosci bez solidarnosci! There is no freedom without solidarity! The London demo was organised by Razem Londyn.
Solidarity with Polish LGBTQ+ rainbow flash mob
Today I joined the protest outside the Polish Embassy and documented the rainbow flash mob. Just two days before the presidential elections in Poland it felt very urgent and much needed to be vocal and show solidarity with our LGBTQ+ siblings living there.
‘In the light of disturbing news about the situation of Polish LGBT+ community we want to send some love and solidarity their way.
Current homophobic president Andrzej Duda spreads hate towards the LGBT+ community by saying publicly on national television "LGBT is an ideology, they're not people". This dehumanising rhetoric allows for the increase of homophobia in Poland (according to ILGA Poland is the most homophobic EU country)
To get a grasp of what's the situation of Polish LGBT+ community watch this documentary by BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-53342667/poland-election-the-fight-for-lgbt-rights
We say strong NO to any form of homophobia, transphobia and hatred towards our Polish sisters and brothers!
Let’s meet outside the Polish Embassy at lunchtime on Friday 10th of July for a socially distant flash mob and draw a massive rainbow of hope outside the Polish Embassy to show our love, hope and support!’
Stand Up to Lgbtq+ Hate Crime, SLAV 4 U, FARSA Feminists Artywists Society in Action and Polish Rainbow in UK
Black Trans Lives Matter
A set of images documenting some scenes and beautiful moments towards the end of the Black Trans Lives Matter protest. There was no usual commercial Pride this year on this weekend due to the pandemic but this event felt like a relevant and much needed Pride upgrade. People were asked to bring flowers…
Black Lives Matter Hyde Park - Trafalgar Square
People gathered again to share, listen, educate and protest. There was a prominent presence of the LGBTQ+ crowd and a strong message of support (‘All Black Lives Matter’) from the allies, which was anticipating following Saturday’s Black Trans Lives Matter protest. My photo report is a mix of portraits and details documenting the message, energy, volume, settings and atmosphere of the event.
