King Day at the Dome - 2020
Presidential Politics in Columbia, SC
COLUMBIA, SC - JANUARY 20: Democratic presidential candidates, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), left, former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), right, march on Washington St. to the King Day at the Dome event on January 20, 2020 in Columbia, South Carolina. The event, first held in 2000 in opposition to the display of the Confederate battle flag at the statehouse, attracted more than a handful of Democratic presidential candidates to the early primary state. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Photos by Sean Rayford for Getty Images
As a freelance photojournalist living in Columbia, SC - there are a few annual events that you typically find yourself at — and “King Day at the Dome” is one of those. Each year the media spectacle-o-meter shifts exponentially — based on how close it is to a presidential primary.
Celebrating it’s 20th installment yesterday, the march and rally was held first in opposition to the Confederate battle flag displayed on statehouse grounds— while honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Bernie Sanders and Tom Steyer
Yesterday’s event, attracted eight Democratic presidential candidates, who, arms locked, marched from Zion Baptist Church up Washington and down Main St., rallying at the statehouse. Two adjoining seats were labeled, “Sen. Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer,” who provided for some of the most humorous moments of the day.
If you’d like to see more: King Day at the Dome 2020 - Photos
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About the author:
Sean has been photographing South Carolina since 1997 when he joined the Gamecock Newspaper at the University of SC. He came to school to study computer science — but those classes sucked. After receiving a degree in Media Arts, Sean worked as an assistant manager at a record store, and began freelancing with the local daily newspaper. After a few years and multiple gun-point hold-ups, Sean found himself tending bar at a small live music venue, balancing the service industry with freelance photography for over a decade. He lost his job after telling his boss off at the bar one night, and took on photography full time in 2015. Since then, Sean has become a regular contributor to Getty Images, The Associated Press, The New York Times and many others. You can see more of his work at www.seanrayford.com.