NEW: Newport Photographer LIVE From Minneapolis Captures Violence

NEW: Newport Photographer LIVE From Minneapolis Captures Violence

Photographer Olga Enger, who owns Studio Newport - and hails from Minneapolis -- appeared on GoLocal LIVE to talk about her experience taking photos in the riots in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd this week. 

"We were nervous. We didn’t know what it was going to be like [for two white women] going into a race riot, to be honest," she said, of joining her sister to take photos in Minneapolis. 

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"The enemy wasn’t the mobs, [it] wasn’t the crowds — the mobs are angry and crying for justice," she said.

It was when she and her sister were hit with tear gas that shocked her. 

"Your face is burning, your eyes are burning, and there was no medical personnel. It was a wake up for me," she said. "I believe that the officer [that threw the tear gas] targeted us. There was no mainstream media where we were."

Enger said she belive it was police officers "who were actually instigating" the violence. 

"I had never experienced tear gas, until it hit me," said Enger, who added that she and her sister were aided by a protester who threw milk on them to stop the burning. "Once you get hit by tear gas once — when you see officers raising their tear gas guns or grenades, you run."

"My hometown is burning," said Enger. "These people want justice."

 

Justice -- or More Violence

"We were there during the day in St. Paul — this was before the escalation," said Enger, of being back in her home state along with her sister. "We saw a TJ Maxx on fire. Unfortunately, as everyone saw the police department [also] was on fire."

When Enger joined GoLocal LIVE on Friday, she was wearing a hat -- and bandana.

"We learned from our experience to wear hats and cover yourself up as much as possible," she said. 

"The most shocking thing is for me, is that we are known as nationally being very progressive," said Enger of her home state. "But I’m now questioning how progressive are we. It’s heartbreaking. There’s a lot to absorb."

"I still think we consider ourselves liberal and progressive. You don’t see the outward gun-owning, gun-toting mentality — it can be under the surface," she said. "I had no idea the police had a reputation for being aggressive."

Despite getting tear-gassed, Enger is heading back Friday to take more photos. 

"Photos don’t lie — I’ll go back with an open eye," said Enger. "I anticipate that’s since nothing been done, I anticipate the rage will continue and escalate."

"We did hear reports that the Black Panthers are en route and expected to arrive Saturday," she said. "I don’t anticipate this going away any time soon. I just know that [protesters] kept chanting 'no justice' — they want justice. This is not going away until something is done." 

"I hope the fires can stop and these people can get some sort of resolution. I urge my town to take action and quickly," said Enger. "My city is suffering. The country is suffering."

"Bear witness with an open mind," urged Enger to the rest of the country watching the violence unfold. "When I went yesterday, I thought how can you cure racism with war and violence. But look at the complete picture...more than just a few clips."

"This is not one bad apple, one bad cop — everyone has a responsibility to cure racism," she said.