SC’s Saturday rallies by the numbers: 2,000 in crowd, 5 arrested, 23 calls for emergency service

Police arrested five people during the rallies on the State House grounds Saturday in Columbia, according to the S.C. Department of Public Safety.

There was a heavy law enforcement presence on and around the perimeter of State House grounds throughout the day.

There were isolated fights and disputes when protesters clashed in heated exchanges.

Public Safety estimates the crowd at about 2,000 at the peak of the rallies.

Other numbers of note:

▪ There were five arrests including a 24-year-old from Pittsboro, N.C. for third-degree assault and battery, a 21-year-old from Gaston for third-degree assault and battery, a 22-year-old from Columbia for disorderly conduct, a 22-year-old from Columbia for third-degree assault and battery and a 35-year-old for breach of peace.

▪ There were 23 calls for emergency services.

▪ Seven people were transported by EMS, although Public Safety didn’t say if those people were assaulted or had problems from being in the hot weather.

▪ No police officers were injured.

Additional law enforcement were brought to the scene during the afternoon when tensions between protesters and counter-protesters flared during the KKK Rally, Public Safety said. The arrests were made during the afternoon rally and following the rallies.

This story was originally published July 18, 2015 at 7:32 PM with the headline "SC’s Saturday rallies by the numbers: 2,000 in crowd, 5 arrested, 23 calls for emergency service."