Thousands march in South Carolina capital: "No Kings"
Photos and words buy Sean Rayford
Caley Rimes is a single mother of three biracial girls living in Pelion, South Carolina. She’s from Barnwell. Her middle child has severe autism. On Saturday, October 18 she joined millions of Americans participating in “No Kings” protests.
“Most people in my family support Donald Trump, besides me and my children, you know. And I just don't understand how at this point they can love my child,” she said, wearing a plain white t-shirt with “NO KINGS” written on the front side in black marker.
As protestors returned to the statehouse after a march to the Governor’s Mansion in Columbia, Rimes cheered them on from the corner of Main and Route #1. Her small homemade sign read, “This is Our America!!! Give it Back.”
“The richest person I know is not Donald Trump rich. So I don't understand how any of them think they can relate to someone who has never even been in a grocery store.”
Her southern accent is thick and is what I’d expect from Pelion via Barnwell.
“This was amazing. Especially being right here — that was a moment that brought tears to my eyes.”
“I’m glad I got to be here. I recently moved from Barnwell to Pelion. So I’m only thirty minutes away — so I said I gotta go. I went and made my sign. I ripped my baby’s notebook up. I made my sign and drew on her shirt and threw shorts on. But we made it.” -Caley Rimes
Next to Rimes, is Stephanie Madison. Among other things, she’s a visiting lecturer at Clemson University where her research focuses on sociopolitical discourse, immigration detention, and education for folks in underserved areas.
“Collectively, we are just sick of the cruelty,” she says, referring to another educator — from the University of South Carolina, “When you see the injustice of it all, and you see I.C.E. behaving with impunity and violence, it is not what the United States stands for. And we have to make our voices heard somehow, some way, before a change can be made,” says Madison.
To Madison’s right, also cheering on the marchers, were three college students who abandoned Williams Brice Stadium during the second quarter of an SEC showdown for the protest.
“I'm raised by a single mom and I have a sister, so this is super important to fight for our rights — my rights. I hope to have children in the future,” said broadcast journalism major Anderson Jones.
It was her first protest.
“It was awesome. I stood along the road and I was able to show my signs and show what I believe,” says Jones.
Her sign read, ‘Only a butterfly can be monarch.”
Emma Kate Connelly, also a broadcast journalism student, said the protest was more fun than the game.
As the demonstration at the statehouse in Columbia, South Carolina wrapped up, one of 2,600 planned by organizers across the United States, Batman was given an opportunity at the microphone.
“Read to Kids. Boycott. Tell your loved ones you are thinking about them. Together we will build a better tomorrow with truth, justice and liberty for all,” the Dark Knight concluded — under the watchful eye of George Washington.
