Maskless protesters rally at SC State House to call for end of COVID-19 restrictions
About 50 maskless protesters gathered outside the South Carolina State House Tuesday to protest continuing coronavirus-related restrictions across the state.
Carrying dozens of American flags and not following health experts’ recommendations to remain at least six feet apart to curb the transmission of the highly contagious virus, the protesters called for lawmakers to “grow a spine” and take action against S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster, who has issued a number of executive orders since March restricting businesses and requiring customers to wear masks.
Lead by the United Patriots Alliance, the group of protesters gathered close on the South steps of the State House at 10 a.m., an hour ahead of the Republican Caucus meeting, in hopes of catching lawmakers walking on the grounds.
They were joined by Republican state Reps. Josiah Magnuson, of Spartanburg, Bobby Cox, of Greenville, and Stewart Jones, of Laurens. Magnuson was in attendance for most of the event, held an American flag and often cheered on speakers.
“I want to stay with the citizens who are rallying here to end the state of emergency,” Magnuson said.
South Carolina has been under a state of emergency since mid-March. Magnuson said he does not agree with how the governor has continued to extend that order. He said that continuing that order has caused residents across the state to panic about COVID-19.
“I think the legislature needs to have stood up and ended it, “ the Spartanburg Republican said.
Organizer Pressley Stutts, of Greenville, kicked off the protest by pointing out that South Carolinians have been living under some kind of restriction for about six months. The crowd booed in response.
“We need to make sure that the cure is not worse than the virus itself,” Stutts said.
McMaster began ordering businesses to close in late March as the coronavirus saw its first month of spread across South Carolina. The governor began allowing businesses to reopen in mid-April, and all were allowed to reopen their doors by the end of the summer.
Still, there are restrictions limiting business capacity, and the governor has required that customers wear masks in many types of establishments and inside of state government buildings.
Stutts talked about the impacts the coronavirus has had on small businesses and domestic crimes. He also alleged the only reason the governor has kept the remaining restrictions is so he could continue to receive funding from the federal government to fight COVID-19.
Congress allocated billions of dollars to South Carolina as part of the CARES Act. CARES Act funds given to local and state governments can be used to cover expenses incurred because of COVID-19 between March 1 and Dec. 30, 2020. Those funds are not contingent on a state keeping businesses shut down.
Stutts called for the governor to end the remaining restrictions.
“We need to free the people to be productive citizens again,” Stutts said.
Chad Caton, an Horry County radio host of “I’m Fired Up,” said protesters needed to emulate the founding fathers and stand up to officials.
“They went out there and said no more,” Caton said, standing in front of a group of men holding American flags.
“Why don’t we stand up for something,” he added.
Caton said the “new normal,” or the idea that wearing masks and social distancing should be normal practice, isn’t an idea “this country was founded on.”
“We don’t want the new norm,” Caton said. “We want the norm.”
At about 11 p.m., protesters finished speaking and gathered for a group photo on the State House steps.
As both the Senate and House bells rang to call lawmakers in to session at about noon to talk about extending coronavirus precautions to the November election, spending CARES Act funding and setting the budget, protesters entered the lobby between the chambers.
There they sang a rendition of “God Bless America,” and chanted “Open Up,” as lawmakers called the roll and began their work.
This story was originally published September 15, 2020 at 12:35 PM.
