Rick Perry's announcement of his Presidential campaign in Charleston today was challenged by a group of demonstrators who reminded the National media and passers by that Perry has openly supported secession for Texas.
Outside the sealed Francis Marion hotel where layers of security protected the Red State bloggers gathering and a long list of right wing leaders, the demonstration brought a little political street theater to the diverse and happy scene that is Charleston's Saturday farmers Market. Charleston supported President Obama and it is a diverse, progressive city which doesn't reflect the hatred and fear of Red State. It is a blue exception to our distressingly red state.
In a Saturday in the Park scene worthy of the old Chicago song, there were story tellers, break dancers, free hugs, organic vegetables and people of all types enjoying the day. Its unlikely many of the Red State attendees saw this happy scene (nearly all organized by local government, but generating plenty of private opportunities) through the hotel's drawn shades.
There were also three demonstrators in old South clothing talking about Rick Perry and secession, with a Confederate Flag.
This short video presents the Demonstration in this important context, a Charleston and an America not yet in control of Rick Perry or some other agent of intolerance and fear.
Most of South Carolina is conservative. In the past month the state rejected 145 million dollars in Federal educational funding. Last week, an nearly bankrupt Highway Department went to the Federal Government for an advance payment of highway construction funds since the department is currently insolvent to the tune of 80 million dollars. Roads are more important here than children.
However on Saturday, in the blue island of Charleston, there were reasons to be happy and signs of resistance.
Here is the video. Will your town do better when the right wing hate circus arrives?