Ep. 29: “Joy of Resistance” feat. Bette Lee

YouTube link coming soon…

Interview with an activist photographer

Bette Lee is a 70 year-old Asian American activist who’s been involved in the struggle for justice and equality for over 30 years. She is a substitute teacher at an alternative high school for mostly Black and Brown students. She currently resides (and resists) in Portland.

In the early 2000s, when I was doing street journalism in Portland, it seemed like I ran into Bette Lee at every protest, rally and march I attended. I became a fan of her photography then, when she posted it regularly to the Portland Indymedia website. She was one of my favorite people in the activist scene there. So I was thrilled when, on July 31st, I saw an article published on Counterpunch under her byline: “Tear Gas and Thugs at the BLM Protests in Portland.” I tracked her down on social media and arranged for this interview. It was a real pleasure to connect with her again.

Bette Lee’s photography on Flickr

“Tear Gas and Thugs at the BLM Protests in Portland” by Bette Lee (Counterpunch, 8.31.2020)

Email: leebette (AT) gmail (DOT) com

Support me on Patreon:
patreon.com/kollibri

or leave me a tip with PayPal: