The NAACP South Carolina State Conference is gravely concerned by the recent hate-related incidents occurring in South Carolina. Reports of racist acts to include assault and intimidating acts are increasing across the state. Harassment, racial predominance, racial slurs, and intentional hateful incidents are alarming, and immediate actions are necessary to mitigate further activity. Troubling incidents reported include:
- Racist Text Messages: Black students in South Carolina Colleges and schools receiving anonymous texts referencing slavery and other dehumanizing messages, part of a wider pattern of targeted harassment across the country.
Assaulting/Intimidating Behavior at Polling Places: Poll workers reporting assaulting behaviors, verbally and physically, while voting. Voters failed to follow South Carolina law while voting and when asked to do so by poll workers, the voters reacted in threatening and assaulting behaviors. Incidents were counties apart.
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Religious Institutions being Targeted with Intimidation Tactics or Defaming property: Hate comments painted and smeared on Religious Institution and property vandalized. White males entering or parking at churches attended by Black members during Sunday services (3 weekends consecutively, yesterday the most recent). This behavior is unsettling and intimidating to church members and contribute to extreme anxiety by some due to memories of the shooting with the loss of nine (9) Black lives of worshippers at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC.
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Flying of Confederate Flags as participants in the Veterans Day Parade: A parade in honor of veterans who served our nation honorably was disrupted by a group who chose to carry/fly the confederate flags during the Veterans Day Parade. The confederate flag bearers requested county council’s approval to participate in the parade, the request was denied. Despite the denial of the request and a written agreement between the NAACP local branch and local confederate organization, the group participated in the Veterans Day Parade flying confederate flags. We all know a state holiday exists in South Carolina to honor the Confederacy.
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Shooting of an adolescent working in a restaurant, all workers Black except the owner: White male shot a female server 17 years old with a pellet gun, allegedly disturbed about service. This could have contributed to the loss of this young person’s life. The incident was minimized by the police and the individual was charged with a misdemeanor, allegedly because it was a pellet gun, not a real gun.
These incidents reflect an increasing trend of intimidation tactics and violence. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies have been informed of this disturbing uptick of incidents. We cannot wait for others to act. We need to hear from elected state officials to include the Governor of this “great” state as it is often called. The NAACP South Carolina State Conference is launching a review of all incidents reported throughout the state and will be working with law enforcement to ensure the safety of our communities.
Hate and intimidation in South Carolina will not be tolerated. “These acts are a direct attack on the principles of democracy and equality. The NAACP will use every tool at our disposal to ensure safety, accountability and justice. The NAACP South Carolina State Conference urges everyone who experiences or witness hate-related incidents to report them immediately. Community members may contact their local NAACP branch or use the NAACP SC State Conference reporting system to document acts of hatred for appropriate actions to be taken.
Our Response Includes:
Coordinating with law enforcement to ensure safety for our communities.
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Providing support to victims of racially motivated messaging and crimes.
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Educating communities about their rights and resources available to combat discrimination and intimidation.
The NAACP South Carolina State Conference remains vigilant and committed to eliminating discrimination and ensuring the well-being of our communities and their not having to live in fear because of their race, religion, sex, ethnicity or any civil rights violation.
