This was totally unexpected. This afternoon several groups (including but not limited to) The SC Progressive Network, Occupy Columbia, and members of the SC State legislature, protested the arrest of 19 occupiers who were arrested last week on State House grounds.
The reason for the arrest? An improbable "rule" stating no one could protest on statehouse grounds after 6 pm, a rule that hadn't been enforced for at least 30 days of the Columbia Occupation.
I, along with 18 other people, protested through civil disobedience, wrapping around the fence that protects the confederate flag. We were removed by police, processed, sent to jail, brought before a magistrate, and released around 3 am.
Today Sandlappers came together to protest our arrest and defy a dictate that terminates free speech at 6 pm. The protest was raucous but peaceful, and in a turn of events Occupy Columbia did not anticipate, we leveraged that energy to retake the State house. As of this writing, Occupy Columbia is back on statehouse grounds, for how long, I have absolutely no idea, but it demonstrates weakness in the Haley administration. They are applying rules inconsistently, illustrating a weak grasp of the law and how it applies to citizens.
Thanks to all who support the Occupy movement and this tiny SC group. This was a big win for us tonight.
9:47 PM PT: The authorities are changing the rules and there are 6 or 7 officers on the grounds. It looks like they will attempt to evict protestors who fall asleep. (Currently, they are claiming we can stay but we must be awake.) This looks like a silent sweep scenario.