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I Was There

I WAS THERE is a digital series of first-person accounts that break down current and historical events to human scale. Using experiential storytelling, the series carefully takes viewers behind some of Southern California’s biggest headlines and makes sense of the stories we thought we knew but don’t quite fully know. They are also personal.

Everyone’s contextual lens is different, shaped by where we come from, our family, age, health – the factors are endless. You may listen to the series and learn that a stranger’s experience – big or small, historical or personal — resonates with you. Maybe you were there as well.

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I WAS THERE: Inside A COVID-19 ICU.
3:12
I WAS THERE: Inside A COVID-19 ICU.
A Southern California nurse discusses her work inside a COVID-19 ICU.
Issac Bryan stands arms folded, at a Black Lives Matter in June 2020 | Trevor Jackson
3:21
I WAS THERE: Isaac Bryan was Born for this Moment; Confronting Police, Protests and Power
In this episode of I Was There Bryan describes leading a Black Lives Matter protest outside of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s residence and why the experience was a pivotal moment for him.
As Restaurant Workers Struggle, This Man Fields Their Calls
3:37
I WAS THERE: As Restaurant Workers Struggle, This Man Fields Their Calls
Since March the calls haven’t stopped for Manuel Villanueva, a community organizer with the Restaurant Opportunities Center. Thousands of cooks, waiters and dishwashers have struggled since then to survive since the shut down orders.
Protestors kneel as police aim at them on May 30, 2020 | Trevor Jackson
2:46
I WAS THERE: A Look Into the George Floyd Protests in Fairfax
As part of an ongoing project documenting quarantine life in Los Angeles, art student Trevor Jackson attended a march in the Fairfax District. His photos portray the tension, anxiety and fear felt by some participants.
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3:27
I WAS THERE: Using His Truck as a Stage, Inglewood Resident Anthony Sheriff Drums up Cheers in Quarantine
Foster care, alcoholism, quarantine: his drums got Anthony Sheriff through it all.
Minah Yeo stands in front of the building where her mother's business burned down during the 1992 civil unrest | Photo by Juhn Kwon
1:35
I WAS THERE: Emotions Resurface for Woman Whose Family’s Business Burned During the 1992 Civil Unrest
Minah Yeo is the Director of Interior Design at Berliner Architects in Culver City. In this episode of “I Was There” Yeo recalls watching her family’s business burn to the ground during the 1992 civil unrest.
Nurse Roni Kasmal looks over COVID-19 patient in hospital bed with full personal protective equipment on
I WAS THERE: As Cases Rise Again, COVID-19 Nurse Raises Alarm Bells From Inside the ICU
A Southern California nurse discusses her work inside a COVID-19 ICU and warns the coronavirus is far from over.
Las Cafeteras Band Picture With Denise Carlos in Center
3:54
I WAS THERE: Tour is Cancelled But COVID-19 Won’t Stop L.A.’s Las Cafeteras
“Things feel like they’re falling apart. But the artist will utilize whatever moment in time that can be traumatic and make something beautiful out of it.”
Portrait of Dr. Richard Allen Williams.
I WAS THERE: 'He Was Suggesting That Blacks Were Not Normal,' L.A. Doctor Recalls Bizarre Phone Call From Then LAPD Chief Daryl Gates
Los Angeles Cardiologist Dr. Richard Allen Williams recalls a disturbing phone call that ultimately contributed to a major change in policing in L.A.
Chris Silva, whose brother died during struggle with Kern County Sheriff deputies, holds sign for his brother at George Floyd protest | Karen Foshay
3:13
I WAS THERE: 'Without Video, You Don’t Have Much' - Chris Silva Recalls Fight for Answers After Brother in Bakersfield Dies During Encounter with Law Enforcement
In this episode of I WAS THERE, Chris Silva reflects on his brother’s death, today’s police reform movement and what he says is a glaring conflict of interest among local sheriffs throughout California.
Laura Chick Sitting On A Desk
3:52
I WAS THERE: Laura Chick Challenged The Most Powerful Forces in LA Politics. She Has A Message For LA’s Current Leaders
Chick has made a career out of challenging those in power, rooting out waste and fraud, and was never afraid to speak her mind, even if it threatened to offend some of LA’s most powerful forces. 
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