Black photographer reflects a year later on capturing the Jan. 6 attack

Last Jan. 6, photographer Mel D. Cole had only recently turned his lens from musical events to political ones. That day, he simply planned to capture President Donald Trump’s rally near the White House. He had no idea how the day would unfold.

His compelling images show rioters struggling with police, tending to their pepper-sprayed eyes, forcing their way into the Capitol and dragging an officer down the building’s steps.

“In no way, shape or fashion did I expect people to do what they did that day,” he said. “Some people got in [to the Capitol], there were fights, there was craziness. It was the craziest day of my entire life.

Cole remembers feeling panic set in as the rioters made their way to the Capitol after Trump’s speech at the rally.

“Walking down to the Capitol building,” he said, “that’s when I started to fear for my life.”