The challenges of Occupying South Carolina

[xchrom]

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/01/201212175634665342.html


Despite South Carolina's high unemployment, the state's Occupy movement has limited support [GALLO/GETTY]

Charleston, South Carolina - Occupying South Carolina isn't always easy in this deep-red state.

But as South Carolina's Republican presidential primary approaches, Occupy Wall Street - a grassroots movement protesting income inequality and corporate influence in US politics - is seemingly everywhere in the state: demonstrating at Republican debates in Myrtle Beach and Charleston, arguing with Mitt Romney at town hall events - and holding rallies at the state house in Columbia.

Occupy Wall Street began in August 2011, when demonstrators camped out in New York City's Zuccotti Park, near the city's financial hub.
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Local "Occupy" groups began springing up in South Carolina shortly thereafter. Josh Richmond of Occupy Charleston said that the city's group formed partly in reaction to seeing New York City police shoot pepper spray into the faces of non-violent protesters.

"That was the moment where it was like, we have to come together down here," Richmond told Al Jazeera at an Occupy demonstration outside a Republican presidential debate in Charleston. The 30-or-so people at the rally - many young and white, but not all - held signs reading "Occupy the Primary" and "Democrat, Republican - what's the difference?"

[RobertEarl]

1. Go big SC

Here in NC, just north of SC, Occupy is just getting started.

We had a nice rally here in Bryson City yesterday and about 50 people showed up. I posted a link in the NC place. http://www.democraticunderground.com/106968

[xchrom]

2. +1

[Lint Head]

3. The Occupy South Carolina people are extremely brave.

I was born and raised in South Carolina and the bigots per square foot will smother your ass. I was raised a Democrat but my folks were more conservative. I was always progressive and the indoctrination just didn't take. I'm considered the odd one in my family because I protested the treatment of minorities during the 60's in an area of the country that was known for lynchings. I have not lived there for a few decades. My family is still there. My visits are like walking on egg shells.