Black Lives Matter protesters have taken to the streets across the nation, and even across the globe. Planting the sound of millions of feet in every single state, the protesters reach out with a singular message: enough is enough.
Sparked by the death of George Floyd, these protesters stood against police brutality, and planned peaceful protests across America. Last Friday, Manning saw its first group of citizens standing together to find a better way, peacefully.
Many citizens from Manning and Surrounding areas came to the lawn in front of the Clarendon County courthouse steps, listening and speaking on the topic at hand. Participants and included many Clarendon politicians; Cindy Risher, Kimberly Johnson, Senator Kevin Johnson, Mayor Julia Nelson, and several pastors from the surrounding area.
“We’re here because it’s tough,” said Pastor Sam Livingston. “Because it’s not always fair, because it’s hard to be a black man in these United States of America.”
In between the pastors who spoke a gospel choir took the stage with a full band to play music. During one song, the words “it’s time to make a change, we are the people, we can do it,” rang out in repetition. Pastors spoke on the death of George Floyd, and how we as a community need to come together to prevent anything like that from happening in Clarendon.
“An African American mans life was taken once again by a white police officer,” mentioned one pastor in a teary-eyed speech. “We have seen it time and time again. We need to work in collaboration with our officials to make sure this doesn’t happen here. We can’t wait on it, we need to act now.”
The rally continued on peacefully, with more pastors delivering speeches. Soon after, the mic was turned over to the crowd, and individuals were allowed to speak. The first of these was Vinek Blanding.
Blanding, who grew up in Clarendon, lost her brother to what she says was police brutality in August of 2000. In her words, her brother was being transferred to Sumter County Jail from Greensboro, NC when he passed. He was found face down in a stretch of woods in Columbia, SC, with both hands and feet shackled together. The police claimed that he allegedly stole their pepper spray, and ran into the woods where he suffered a heart attack. Blanding disagrees with this claim.
“Had the good cops held the bad cops accountable, my brother may still be alive,” said Blanding.
During her speech, Clarendon Resident and Blandings childhood friend Karen Hilton-Sanders stood with her hands and feet shackled in the same way as her brothers 20 years ago.
“This is how my brother was shackled that day,” said Blanding.
Blanding didn’t approach Clarendon County’s police force negatively, however. Instead, she commended them. After calling several citizens from the area to ask about reports of police brutality, she was happy to convey that the attitude towards Clarendon cops was overwhelmingly positive.
“It would be nice if forces in other counties would look towards Clarendon when they want to know how police should treat their citizens,” said Blanding.
The Manning Police Department even held a small ceremony recently to show their solidarity and commitment to upholding justice fairly for their citizens. The “I Promise” pledge created by Jeff Black and Mayor Julia Nelson was recited by each police officer in the City of Manning.
Like any civil rights movement from the past, Black Lives Matter is asking for one thing: Change. No matter how difficult the process, or how lengthy the protest, the movement wants change. Whether it comes or not, the voices will be heard.
