‘We all are together and we are unified’: Peaceful protests begin second week in Columbia
The crowd wasn’t as large as it has been this week but Roderick Haynes wanted to make sure he was down at the South Carolina State House on Sunday afternoon.
The 23-year-old Benedict College grad was joined by between 50-75 people as they took part in a peaceful demonstration in front of the Capitol. The protesters brought signs and music during their demonstration, which still was going on into the early evening.
“We got to come out everyday whether you are hot or sweaty. No one is worried about that,” said Haynes, who was taking part in a demonstration for the fifth time. “We all are together and we are unified, fighting for one cause. We are against police brutality and injustice.”
Sunday marked the ninth day of protests in Columbia, part of demonstrations occurring all across the country after the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. His death sparked nationwide outrage and renewed scrutiny of the deaths of black Americans in police custody.
Sunday’s protests were much more peaceful and calmer than the violent protests across the city a week ago. A handful of law enforcement officers occasionally walked around the State House grounds but let the protesters have their space.
Haynes had a megaphone and led the group with chants of “Black Lives Matter” and “No Justice, no Peace” during the more than four hours of the demonstration. Cars honked in support as they drove up and down Gervais Street.
Haynes also led the crowd in saying names of other high-profile cases around the country including Louisville’s Breonna Taylor and Columbia’s Joshua Ruffin.
Ruffin was a 17-year-old who was killed April 8 by a Columbia police officer patrolling in an area near where cars had been recently broken into, Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said the next day.
When the officer got out of his car to question Ruffin, the teen started to run away and during the 20-second chase, pulled out a gun, Holbrook said.
Holbrook promised to release body camera footage of the shooting after the investigation is finished. Solicitor Byron Gipson said in a statement Wednesday that he will share his thoughts and evidence with the public after he reviews and decides what to do about Ruffin’s death.
“I didn’t know him but I know his story,” Haynes said. “He is from Columbia and I am from Columbia. If the media or people around here won’t say his name, I will say it myself.”
