Standing Strong in Love Against the KKK: How 4 Friends Met in Columbia, SC

Back in June, I (Bram Sarkowski) was contacted by fellow Anti-Racist friend Rigel about a planned KKK rally at the South Carolina statehouse in Columbia, South Carolina. Being that we had connected in Anti-Racist groups online and had watched the horrors of Charleston & discussed what could happen with a KKK rally, we were both primed to take a stand against this group there.

Rigel was our fearless leader, having protested with Occupy Cincinnati & other movements, and worked to coordinate a road trip among us Anti-Racist friends. Amy from nearby Rigel was on board and we were able to contact West Columbia, SC local Ami Propagator to join us at the statehouse.

With plans in place and generous support from friends, we all converged on Columbia on Friday, July 17. We all stayed in the same hotel just blocks from where the Confederate flag had flown for 54 years until recently.

What we saw on the day of the rally was a mass of people, mostly against the KKK, gathering to listen to Black Power & Black Justice groups on one side of the statehouse. After standing in solidarity with them, it was clear that the KKK had arrived and we all made our way to the other side of the building...to catch a sight of pure ignorance and hatred in person...

What happened next will be left up to our guests Ami, Rigel and Amy as we all come together just after a month later.

I look forward to talking with my friends once more. Won't you join us? 

Let's get the conversation going...