On October 19th, 2014 the St. Louis Rams beat the Seattle Seahawks 28 to 26. A mere seventeen minute drive away, the situation could not have been more different. Months before the hometown victory on August 9th, 2014, Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was shot and killed by Darren Wilson, a white police officer, in Ferguson, Missouri. A peaceful candlelight vigil on August 10th, ultimately climaxed to violence that lasted for months, because protesters outnumbered police officers, businesses were looted and street riots unfolded. At the Edward Jones Dome, where the St. Louis Rams scored their four touchdowns, footballs flew through the air, while in Ferguson, a drastic conflict was occuring; Rocks, molotov cocktails, bullets, tear gas, rubber bullets, and Flashbang grenades flew through the air for longer than just four 15-minute quarters. On October 19th, 2014, Ferguson protester Cheyenne Green chose to bring the Ferguson protests to the Dome by flying an American flag with the union down right outside. A fan who was angered by this disrespect of the flag confronted Green, and began pulling the flag away from her. In turn, the photograph (figure 1) that ensued from the battle over the flag resulted in one of the most iconic images of the Ferguson unrest. This image is the most …show more content…
This very appeal to both sides is interestingly a result of the photographer’s bias and the consequent image framing. To those opposed to the Ferguson protesters, this image empowers them, as they are riled by the perceived violation of United States flag code as it states, “The flag should never be displayed with the union down.” It also empowers them by portraying them as powerful people, centered in the picture with a strong grip on the American flag. They are depicted as the fighters for America and American