[UPDATED] Up to 4,000 people in North Charleston and Summerville shouted for democracy and freedom Saturday in peaceful #NoKings rallies. People carried humorous placards, wore inflatable animals and honked horns as they passed by.
The events were not “Hate America” rallies, as often channeled by national and state Republican leaders. Rather, they reflected the sentiment of one woman in North Chalreston who repeatedly shouted, “This is what freedom looks like.”
#NoKings national organizers said about 7 million people attended more than y more than 2,700 protests across the country in what was “a historic moment of unity and resistance. From rural communities to major metropolitan centers, the message was clear: America will not be ruled by fear, force or one man’s power grab.”
In South Carolina, about a dozen communities had rallies, including Columbia where early numbers showed a crowd of 2,500 as the event started in early afternoon. More were expected to participate in a march from the Statehouse to the Governor’s mansion.
3,000+ at North Charleston protest
In North Charleston, an estimated 3,000 protesters lined Ashley Phosphate Road for 4/10 of a mile at Festival Centre in clear skies and persistent sunshine. The predominantly White, middle-class crowd carried political signs and posters supporting democracy and pushing back on authoritarian policies of President Trump and others in Washington.
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper
Signs ranged from “Just say no to fascism” and “Only you can prevent Truth Decay” to “So many lies, so little cardboard” and “We the people resist.”
At mid-afternoon, City of North Charleston spokesman Ryan Johnson said the city had officers in the crowd monitoring the activity. They weren’t noticeable to bystanders.
“According to our officers on scene, the event ended without any reported incidents,” he said.
Hundreds protest in Summerville
Horns honked – a lot – in what appeared to be support of upwards of 1,000 protesters along North Main Street around noon Saturday at the Dorchester County offices in Summerville.
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper 
Credit: Andy Brack | Charleston City Paper
At this rally, there were more inflatable animals. Protesters seemed to be energized by honking horns. They also seemed a bit more lively, perhaps because they could cool off in shade which wasn’t present in North Charleston.
Signs included slogans with everything from “Silence is not safety; Freedom starts with speech” and “End Trump’s tyranny & Fascism now!” to “True patriots fight fascism” to “Democracy dies in silence; Make some noise!”
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