Miki Pope's August 2026 Isthmus cover photo.
Photographer Miki Pope is a resident of the Willy Street neighborhood where Corey Ruiz was fatally shot by a police officer on July 22. They photographed the ensuing protests, starting with the march downtown where demonstrators disrupted Concerts on the Square.
Miki’s cover photo depicts the vigil that grew up on the site of the shooting, at the corner of Willy and South Baldwin streets. There are flowers, placards and candles surrounding a sculpture of a fist that came from George Floyd Square in Minnesota.
“I’ve felt the rage. I’ve felt the grief,” Miki says. “I’ve witnessed the community there take care of each other, keep each other safe, keep each other fed.”
Chali Pittman
Police removing the memorial at South Baldwin Street and Williamson Street.
A photo by staff writer Chali Pittman that was considered as a last-minute cover replacement.
The day we were to go to press, Aug. 2, the city cleared the intersection of the vigil and encampment that had followed. We pondered replacing the cover story with a photo staff writer Chali Pittman took that morning, concerned that our original choice might now look dated. But after some discussion we stuck with the cover, believing it represented a point in time that was important to memorialize.
Miki Pope
Alternate cover photo options from Miki Pope.
Miki Pope's photos from the memorial site were widely shared on Instagram from their profile @miki.takes.photos.
Miki got their start in activist photography at the age of 20, documenting the 2011 protests against Gov. Scott Walker’s anti-union efforts. They were awarded best photographer at the Shorty Awards and runner up for outstanding photojournalism at the New America Media Awards. See more of Miki’s work at Miki Pope Photography and on Instagram @miki.takes.photos.
