Black Panthers in Columbia, SC?

*People who identified as Black Panthers gather near Parklane Rd. in Columbia, SC where Cyrus Carmack-Belton was shot and killed in 2023. (All photos made June 6, 2026 by Sean Rayford)*

words by Sean Rayford (2026)

“What unit… I’m just trying to figure out who y’all are and where y’all from,” asked local activist Jerome Bowers of a man wearing black fatigues, boots and patrol hat on Saturday afternoon. The name on his shirt read “R. Sherman” and at least three pins, indicated a colonel’s rank.

“We’re the Black Panther Party,” said Sherman. Bowers hadn’t finished his question.

As a protest and rally was beginning across town at the South Carolina Statehouse, armed men and one woman, who identified themselves as the Black Panther Party, gathered on the sidewalk along Parklane Rd. near the gas station where Cyrus Carmack-Belton was shot and killed by Rick Chow in 2023.

A crowd had formed to listen the group, now preparing to head to the statehouse.

*The memorial for Cyrus Carmack-Belton where he was shot and killed in 2023 near Parklane Rd. in Columbia, South Carolina*

“What Black Panther Party?” asked Bowers.

“The Black Panther Party,” said Sherman.

“What Black Panther Party? There’s a lot of people using the Black Panther Party name,” said Bowers, “We’ve had people come in here before professing to be Panthers and so I’m just trying to make sure.”

*Charleston’s Marcus McDonald, an activist whose instrument has been displayed at the International African American Museum, participates in the protest at the statehouse.*

Sherman turned around and walked off, a woman wearing a Black Lives Matter t-shirt handed Bowers a business card and a Panther with a bull horn stepped in, “We are the Black Panthers,” he said.

“Let’s not do this,” said someone else.

After some back and forth, a heavily armed Panther wearing pins indicating a captain’s rank, walked over to Bowers, “Hey brother, I appreciate you. I really do. But this is over. It’s been a nice day.”

*Panthers of Florida gather near Parklane Rd.*

The captain was one of few in the group not wearing a red patch reading “Panthers of Florida. Say Less, Do More.”

Before she could finish, another man in black fatigues approached Bowers, “Hey brother, can I speak to you for a second, one-on-one?” The name on his shirt read, “Vann” and his pin indicated a first lieutenant.

“Listen, we understand what’s going on. Right now, it doesn’t matter. I know that there’s people that act as posers,” he said.

“That’s what I’m saying,” said Bowers, “I’m just coming trying to ask. I tried to talk to the brother who identifies himself as a chairman and he did not want to talk.”

Off in the distance, someone shouted “LET’S GO!”

As the group walked across the street from the gas station, Bowers followed. “The thing about me, I’m gonna come with respect, but I don’t care about the guns. I don’t care about how deep you are. I don’t care about none of that. I came respectfully and tried to talk to the brother.”

*The gas station formerly owned by Rick Chow on Parklane Rd. / Columbia, SC*

Bowers looked to his smart phone and the live feed audience.

“We have had issues before, where individuals who called themselves Black Panthers, who did all kinds of mischief in the community. And we had to clean that up.”

Near 1pm, and a few miles across town, the Florida Panthers arrived at the statehouse grounds, where a local 20 year-old, Jadann Hill, had organized a protest and rally. Cyrus’s mother was in attendance, along with numerous local leaders and elected officials.

Local news stations set up on the opposite side of the Black Panther group and Rep. Todd Rutherford addressed the cameras and crowd. Before he finished, one of the Panthers with the bull horn was standing next him, holding a sign that read, “Shut down all Asian stores in South Carolina.”

Cyrus mother spoke, “My son was afraid. My son bled out on the side of the road with strangers. The last person’s face that my son saw was his murderer. And the state of South Carolina and those jurors let my son’s murderer go free. And I am angry and I am outraged,”said Nicole Carmack.

“We do need to support people who support us. If we go into a store and they follow us around, do not spend your dollars.”

When they finished addressing the cameras, the family, local leaders and organizer walked into the shade near the Spanish-American War Veterans Monument, and Jadann Hill talked about her day. “This is my first time organizing something like this,” she said, “and the Black Panthers came and they were very peaceful.”

*Panthers of Florida give an interview to a reporter from WIS near Parklane Rd.*

Hill says that young people can take the first step by anonymously surrendering guns to local programs like the Ju’stice Foundation. “I have friends that passed away from gun violence.”

A few hundred feet away, Bowers live-streamed that he had made peace with the Panthers.

Gas station owner charged with murder (2023)

Protestors seek justice for Cyrus Carmack-Belton (2026)

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