Observer Photos in June 2022 feature Roe vs Wade’s reversal that leads to protests, Juneteenth celebrations, NASCAR’ Bruton Smith died at the age of 95 and more
Observer Staff
By The Pham
Observer Photos in June featured Roe vs Wade’s reversal that led to protests, Juneteenth celebrations, NASCAR’s Bruton Smith died at the age of 95 and more
The Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe vs Wade was the news — nationally and locally.
The decision has shipped the burden back to the states to handle the issue. Protests were seen from small towns to metropolitan areas, where hundreds of participants marched on the streets and at a local clinic.
In Charlotte, Southern Comfort Inn hotel closed its door suddenly, displacing nearly 200 people. The manager said so many residents were behind on rent, the extended stay motel can’t pay its bills. The living conditions were described as “hellish.”
In sports, NASCAR’s Bruton Smith, the legendary race promoter and founder of Charlotte Motor Speedway, died at the age of 95.
In June, Charlotte Film Society’s Independent Picture House opened — the only theater in the city dedicated to independent and foreign films.
Central Avenue is the center of Charlotte’s global community — from fish markets to hair braiding salons to Latino bakeries. Central Avenue is where tastes, scents and cultures from all over the globe meet in Charlotte.
At last, after two-year delay due to COVID, “The Stadium Tour” — featuring glam-metal legends Joan Jett, Poison, Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard — went as planned.
Here are some of the Observer memorable images that produced by our visual journalists in the month of June
Claire Payette, 22, calls out in response to a speaker as abortion-rights demonstrators halt a march through uptown Charlotte, N.C. at the intersection of S. Mint St. and W. 4th St. in protest of the Supreme Court’s 6 to 3 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade a few hours prior in Charotte, June 24, 2022. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile atrickett-wile@charlotteobserver
Family and friends gather for a memorial for the four people killed in the Juneteenth shooting on Beatties Ford Road two years ago in Charlotte, June 22, 2022. Khadejeh Nikouyeh Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
Daniela Robledo adjusts her crown at her quinceañera, in Charlotte, April 28, 2022. Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com
The anti-abortion group, Love Life, prays with a woman outside of A Preferred Women’s Health Center of Charlotte, June 25, 2022. The demonstration was in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Khadejeh Nikouyeh Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
William Kamkwamba, author the children’s novel, “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind,” speaks during a dedication ceremony for a windmill that students built at Randolph Middle School in Charlotte, June 6, 2022. Khadejeh Nikouyeh Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
McCaul Border, 16, of Charlotte, and her mother, not pictured, joined other pro abortion rights activists in front of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center in Charlotte, June 26, 2022. The demonstration was in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Alex Slitz alslitz@charlotteobserver.com
A snake moves through the woods at Mountain Creek Park in Sherrills Ford, N.C., June 9, 2022. Khadejeh Nikouyeh Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
Charley Freiberg, 5, holds a photo of her and her father, Jimmy Freiberg, June 8, 2022. Jimmy Freiberg, 48, was killed in an apartment near the 10000 block of Hillgrove Lane in Charlotte, NC on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Freiberg was hit by a bullet as he ran to protect his wife, Vanessa and daughter, Charley from the gunfire. Charley was born on Father’s Day in 2016 and will turn 6 on Father’s Day 2022. Charley and her mom, Vanessa have been stricken with grief since the sudden and tragic loss of Jimmy Freiberg but plan to make this Father’s Day a celebration. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
John Winn, left, and Steve Nichols sit on their front door step with their new dog, Oscar, in Indian Trail, N.C., June 3, 2022. Oscar the dog was taken to a shelter in March after his previous owners saw him humping another male dog. Steve Nichols and John Winn adopted Oscar after learning about his story. Khadejeh Nikouyeh Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
Paralympian David Kiley poses for a portrait in Mooresville, June 19, 2022. Khadejeh Nikouyeh Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
Artwork sits on an abandoned building at the corner of West 9th and Johnson Streets near ADM Milling in Charlotte, June 3, 2022. The lot where the building sits has been rezoned to allow the construction of town homes. Alex Slitz alslitz@charlotteobserver.com
Butler High’s Cheyla Scott has set four national high jumping records and is jumping NCAA qualifying heights as a junior. Scott is being heavily recruited and has Olympics on her mind. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Charlotte FC’s Ben Bender mingles with fans as he is crowned Man of the Match after the team’s win, 2-0, over the New York Red Bulls at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, June 11, 2022. Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com
Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott performs with the band during The Stadium Tour 2022 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC on Tuesday, June 28, 202. The concert featured Classless Act, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Poison and Motley Crue. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Abortion rights activists march along East Trade Street near a homeless person in Charlotte, June 26, 2022. The demonstration was in response to last week’s decision from the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. Alex Slitz alslitz@charlotteobserver.com
Scott Weaver, of Charlotte, N.C., walks past film reels at the Independent Picture House in Charlotte, June 13, 2022. Weaver helped decorate the lobby at the theatre. Alex Slitz alslitz@charlotteobserver.com
\Olympic High School Trojans’ Football No. 77 center, 17-year old Jeremiah Burch Jr., poses for portraits at the Olympic High football field as the Charlotte Observer boy’s athlete of the year, June 15, 2022. “I’ve been playing football since I was five years old,” Burch says. “All of my uncles played it, my dad played it, and my grandpa played it, so I grew up around football my whole life,” he said. In 2021, Burch had the opportunity to play in the Shrine Bowl and won several awards for football and several more as a track and field athlete throwing shot-put and discus. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile atrickett-wile@charlotteobserver
Buses come and go from the Charlotte Transportation Center in Charlotte, June 23, 2022. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile atrickett-wile@charlotteobserver
Barbarette Talley, right, of the Queen City Senior African Drummers, plays the djembe alongside several of her groupmates for a crowd of young children during the Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas culture day camp at Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School in Charlotte, June 16, 2022, Arthur H. Trickett-Wile atrickett-wile@charlotteobserver
Lisa Landrum, of Charlotte, shows solidarity with abortion rights activists as they march through uptown Charlotte, June 26, 2022. The demonstration was in response to last week’s decision from the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. Alex Slitz alslitz@charlotteobserver.com
Kymber Means and her cat, Bailey, stand outside her room at the Southern Comfort Inn in Charlotte, June 27, 2022. Means, along with other residents at the hotel, is being made to move due to the hotel closing. Several residents have been living in the hotel in squalid conditions including signs of mold, bug infestations and water damaged curtains and carpets. Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com
Poison lead singer Bret Michaels reaches out to shake hands with a fan during the band’s performance at The Stadium Tour 2022 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, June 28, 202. The concert featured Classless Act, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Motley Crue and Def Leppard. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Zion Hall Jr, 14, sits in room 202 of the Southern Comfort Inn on Tuckaseegee Road where he and his mother, Lavora Wilson, 46, have been living for about a year and a half. Alongside a handful of other tenants, they are being relocated as the Southern Comfort Inn closes down. “Anything’s better than this,” Wilson says. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile atrickett-wile@charlotteobserver
A woman extends a representation of a miniature baby in her hands outside a Charlotte abortion clinic in Charlotte, June 25, 2022. Charlotte
Marcus Smith, front/left and his brother David Smith, behind, help carry their father Bruton Smith’s casket to a hearse following his funeral service at Central Church in Charlotte, June 30, 2022. Bruton Smith was the founder/CEO of Speedway Motorsports Inc. and a NASCAR Hall of Fame. Smith died on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at the age of 95. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
This story was originally published July 8, 2022 at 9:01 AM.
