Ukraine: The Maidan

Written By Justin Merriman
A woman walks past a line of flowers near one of the barricaded entrances to Kiev's Maidan, Independence Square, on Saturday, March 8, 2014. Memorials for those killed are scattered throughout the square, and are now honored as martyrs.
Tulips hang from the barbed wire of one of the barricaded entrances.
A memorial to Armenian Sergey Nikoyan, the first person killed in clashes with police in the Maidan.
A woman holds a sign up as she takes part in a demonstration as part of International Women's Day.
A man walks by posters that hang along the street in the Maidan.
Crimean Tatars demonstrate in Kiev's Independence Square on Saturday against Russia's occupation of Crimea.
A woman joins a demonstration by Crimean Tatars.
People demonstrate against Russia's occupation of Crimea.
A member of the security forces joins protests in the Maidan.
A woman weeps at one of the memorials in Kiev's Maidan.
People join in demonstrations in the Maidan.
A Crimean Tatar demonstrates against Russia's occupation of Crimea.
A man stands along a street near one of the barricaded entrances to Kiev's Independence Square on Saturday.  Many Ukrainians are mixed with feelings of joy and sorrow but also fear of what may come.
A man's shadow is cast against a sign against Putin and his occupation of Crimea. 
A nun is seen through a sliver of space in a crowd as she prays at one of the memorials in Kiev's Maidan on Saturday, March 8, 2014. Memorials for those killed are scattered throughout the square, and are now honored as martyrs.

To read more about the situation in Ukraine read Betsy Hiel's reporting in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.


Justin Merriman

Justin Merriman is a freelance photojournalist, commercial photographer, licensed drone pilot, and filmmaker based in Pittsburgh. His career began in Southwestern Pennsylvania, where he worked as a newspaper photographer dedicated to community storytelling and politics. Since then, his work has been recognized with regional, national, and international awards and has appeared in publications around the world.

After covering the crash of United Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001, Merriman committed to documenting the U.S. military’s War on Terror, reporting from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and across the United States. His international assignments have also included life in Fidel Castro’s Cuba, India’s campaign to eradicate polio, the aftermath of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Cuba in 2012, the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis in Rome, the second anniversary of Egypt’s revolution, Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea, and the uncertain future of Guantanamo Bay in 2015. That same year, he traveled the full U.S.–Mexico border to document immigration issues.

In addition to photography, Merriman works as a director and filmmaker, creating recent films on refugees in Turkey, Jordan, India, and South Africa.

Closer to home, he frequently covers stories across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, focusing on the intersections of economic, environmental, and political life. Most recently, he reported on the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and its impact on the community.

Born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Merriman graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg with a B.A. in English Writing. In 2009, the university awarded him its prestigious Alumnus of Distinction award. He is a founding member of Argo Collective, a group of photographers sharing diverse visions of America. He lives outside Pittsburgh with his wife, Stephanie Strasburg, a photojournalist with PublicSource.

http://www.justinmerriman.com
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