The Story Behind The Viral Black Photos Save The White Man

Hutchinson save white man (Twitter / @ kemenzerem)

JAKARTA - The photo of a black man, Patrick Hutchinson, who saved a white man from the chaos of the 'Black Lives Matter' (BLM) mass action in London, England, is in the spotlight of the whole world. A stunning capture of the moment from a Reuters photographer.

Reportedly, the moment was captured amidst rioting around the Waterloo bridge on Saturday, June 13. The solidarity action against racism, which was originally peaceful, suddenly became chaotic when right-wing groups began to join the crowd.

Hutcinshon said that he did this initiative because he did not want the solidarity action to be tainted by events that could divert the focus of struggle in the BLM action. "It is the right thing to do," he said, quoted by Reuters on Tuesday, June 16.

"We don't want the narrative to change and (we want to) focus on what we all stand for. And that's true equality," added Hutcinshon.

I've been speaking to Patrick Hutchinson, the man carrying an injured stranger during clashes yesterday between far right & anti racist activists. "His life was under threat" Patrick said. "So I put him on my shoulders and marched towards the police" @ channel4news # c4news @ 530 pic.twitter.com/c0ysrNG4aC

- Keme Nzerem (@kemenzerem) June 14, 2020

As is known, the man who was rescued by Hutchinson suffered facial wounds in the chaos. Reuters journalists who were present also experienced the same thing. They were beaten by fellow mobs.

"We must continue to protest. We have to keep moving. Our voices need to be heard. We have to get true equality but violence is not necessary, "he said.

Based on information from several people in the crowd of protesters, the man who was rescued by Hutchinson was a member of the right-wing protesters who opposed the BLM action. Unfortunately, there has been no official confirmation of his identity or political affiliation.

In London, the intensity of the BLM solidarity action has increased in recent weeks. The action, which initially only voiced anti-racism because of Floyd's death, began to spread to the destruction of statues and symbols of slavery, colonialism and discrimination.