Occupy Columbia’s message this evening might be best summarized by two of the signs some participants toted: “The First Amendment Rules” and “Dear Nikki, I’m Back.”

With support from the South Carolina Progressive Network, at 6 p.m. this local tangent of the Occupy Wall Street movement returned to the grounds of Columbia’s State House facility.

They still remain there tonight, just five days after some were arrested for refusal to leave after dark.

Approximately 250, including casual observers, attended a rally for the first hour. Following the addresses issued by many from an open microphone, attendees enjoyed music and spirited chants, most of which were directly slyly towards Gov. Nikki Haley.

About 30 Occupiers were still present as of 10:30 p.m.

Included in tonight’s participants was state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg), who came not as a legislator, she told WIS-TV, but as individual citizen. “I just feel very strongly that (free speech) is as basic as citizenship.”

Last Wednesday Gov. Haley ordered the arrest of Occupy Columbia participants who, on their 33rd day on the property, refused to vacate for nightfall. Complaints regarding use of the property were made by state legislators, she said earlier that day, calling for an implied curfew on the demonstrators.  While their presence was tolerable during daylight, Haley issued threats of arrest should the group remain on the grounds during nighttime hours.

Officers of the state’s Bureau of Protective Service and the Dept. of Public Safety arrested 19 that evening of Nov. 16.   Columbia’s Mayor Steve Benjamin and Chief of Police Randy Scott refused to accommodate Haley’s request for aid from city police earlier that same day; Benjamin later called the arrests “unjust.”

No arrests were made tonight, however. DPS directory Leroy Smith informed Occupiers they could remain as long as they used no obstructive objects or furnishings.

Not that the group wasn’t prepared to be arrested, though. “(P)ack a toothbrush and $100” was the advice ProNet gave earlier today to participants who intended to protest any orders to leave the grounds. Progressive Network also offered to aid in legal representation.

Pictures of tonight’s event by photographer Sean Rayford can be seen on his website.

Occupy Charleston’s website features livestream video of this and other events.    

Last week, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley disrupted Occupy Columbia’s 33rd day on state capitol grounds, and with the arrest of 23 members.  While the organization could continue its occupation during daytime hours, it could no longer be present at night after 6 p.m., Haley said.

Today, however, and with support from other organizations and even the mayor, the group intends to challenge the governor’s orders.

Beginning at 6 p.m., Occupy Columbia will return to the grounds in front of the State House building.

The South Carolina Progressive Network is helping the event in promotion, and calling for its member organizations to aid the cause.

“We are urging citizens who believe that our First Amendment right to petition our government doesn’t end at sunset to join us at the State House from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.,” said Brett Bursey, director of ProNet.

“We will peacefully protest on the grounds, and are inviting legislators to join us in taking a stand for free speech in South Carolina.”

On Nov. 16 Haley held a press conference explaining her orders that Occupy Columbia vacate after dark. She was responding to complaints from state Sen. Harvey Peeler Jr. (R-Gaffney), who specified particular Code of Laws he thought to be in violation, she said. That night, participating members were arrested for refusing to comply with the governor’s orders.

The 23 were arrested by officers with the Bureau of Protective Services and the Dept. of Public Safety, however, and not by Columbia police.  

In fact, Mayor Steve Benjamin said he denied request from the governor earlier that same day for city police to respond and arrest.

“It’s not been made clear to us or our lawyers or the chief of police that laws have been broken,” Benjamin said. “(W)e are not going to participate in what we perceive as being unjust arrests.”

Prior to this evening’s standoff demonstration, Occupy Columbia will visit the mayor’s office to offer formal thanks to Benjamin and city police for not honoring the governor’s request for aid, which they still find unjustified.  

They’ll meet at the State House grounds at 4 p.m., march to Benjamin’s office at 4:30, and return to the capitol facility at 1100 Gervais St for 6 p.m.

ProNet says it received no reply from Haley, BPS or DPS when it contacted them multiple times last week for clarification on laws allegedly violated.  “It’s my guess they don’t have a clue how to enforce an illegal order,” said Bursey, who believes the ‘round-the-clock demonstrations at the State House are protected under the First Amendment.

Backing Bursey’s claim, and with local relativity, too, is a 50-year-old court ruling, says ProNet co-chair Virginia Sanders.  

In 1961, the U.S. Supreme Court over-ruled convictions of 187 African-American students who were arrested for a civil rights demonstration on the State House grounds.

The state violated the demonstrators’ rights of free speech, free assembly and freedom to petition, the Court ruled.

If BPS again orders Occupy Columbia’s exit this evening, those who do not comply could be arrested.

Last week, 23 protestors were peacefully cooperative when they were handcuffed and taken into the State House building for processing.

Occupy Columbia will offer livestream video of this evening’s event.

A brave Wisconsin woman videotaped the ordeal of getting her son a Voter ID, which is now a minimum requirement for non-drivers in the state to participate in elections.

She and her son succeeded, but only after a long process that included need to show banking statements (which at first were rejected because they didn't show enough activity).

And after finally completing the endeavor, they were told to pay $28 (a poll tax?) even though the Voter ID's are supposed to be completely free.

(submitted to youtube by madtowngirl2)

Given the similarities of Wisconsin's state government and governor to the same ones here in South Carolina, what are we to expect from our own new Voter ID bill?

We have 178,000 registered voters without current state-issued picture identification cards. We have ample record of persons who are unable to get certified copies of their birth certificates (a requirement to get those new IDs), and due to various reasons the state Republicans never bothered to consider, apparently. For example, you need a birth certificate to get a South Carolina ID card; yet, you need a valid ID card to get a copy of your South Carolina birth certificate. How's that for a Catch 22?

(Click here to see videos telling the stories of a few Carolinians now pressed to spend as much as $1,000 to get their supposedly "free" state ID cards - they're about midway down on that page.)

And even those with state-issued IDs could face problems on election day. South Carolina IDs are valid for 10 years, after all; how many will still resemble their 10-year-old ID pictures enough in order to be allowed to exercise their right to vote?

And even though there might be a meager loophole(mail-in absentee ballots), that loophole might be closed off by the time the next election comes around.

One other key point displayed in this video: the subject is a young, white male in the northern state of Wisconsin, in which the Voting Rights Act has never needed enforcement. If this was so difficult for him, then what are older, minority South Carolinians going to face down yonder?

Care to help our state overcome this photo ID sham, and avoid our state running as low as Wisconsin is at the moment? Then lend a hand to the South Carolina Progressive Network in its efforts. (You can also issue comment to the Dept. of Justice on this subject, too.)

The State Assembly recently passed a bill requiring all voters display a valid identification with photograph in order to participate on election days, a motion that leaves the voting rights of over 178,000 South Carolinians in jeopardy.

A voter who lacks a state-issued photo ID, or whose ID is expired, will not be able to cast a traditional vote on election days after the bill is officially enacted, following its review by the U.S. Dept. of Justice.

While many are attempting to challenge this measure before it goes into effect, there may still be a loophole, however – absentee voting by mail.

According to Chris Whitmire, Public Information Officer of the State Election Commission, currently registered voters can still apply for an absentee ballot, and without need to present an official identification.  If a voter’s request for absentee is honored, his or her mail-in ballot will be accepted and counted with other election returns.

There are 11 different qualifications for absentee voting, including conflict with work schedule, any physical disability and simply being age 65 or older.

This method would allow the 178,000 currently at risk to cast their vote, and even without reapplication, Whitmire says.

“While (the SEC) will be required to submit a list of those voters (without current state-issued identification) at some point, it will not remove them from the list of registered voters,” he says. “For those already registered, they can apply for absentee voting without a picture ID.”

The only circumstance that would affect this absentee ballot option is if the voter had registered to vote by mail without copy of a photo ID, says Whitmire, and if that same voter had yet to vote in person. In such circumstances, a voter registering by this method is currently required to show picture ID the first time he or she votes.

This doesn’t appease the South Carolina Progressive Network, however, which is organizing a formal contest to the Voter ID law.

In fact, this loophole might not even remain by the time the Voter ID law is potentially enacted, says Becci Robbins, Communications Director at SC ProNet. “Just because they’re telling everybody this now doesn’t mean (the loophole) will still be there after (Dept. of Justice) review.”

To contest the act, which passed both houses of the State Assembly and was later signed by Gov. Haley on May 18, SC ProNet is collecting affidavits from affected voters to present to the U.S. Dept. of Justice.

Under the Voting Rights Act, South Carolina is one of nine states required to have federal approval prior to any change in voting laws. After application for “pre-clearance” of the state’s Voter ID proposal, DOJ is to allow 60 days for public comment prior to final ruling on its acceptance.

To contest the proposal, including on grounds it could amount to minority discrimination, Robbins says SC ProNet is collecting affidavits from voters who will be affected by the bill.  (A video of one particular circumstance can be viewed here.)

“You have to have a birth certificate to get a photo ID,” reads the SC ProNet website, however “you must have a photo ID to get a birth certificate,” resulting in a Catch 22 of sorts.

And while the Voter ID proposal would provide new state-issued, non-driver’s license identification cards at no cost, it greatly overlooks the costs for needed documents and their acquisition, Robbin says. The fees to obtain necessary documentation for those IDs, such as a duplicate birth certificate, could range from $12 to over $1,000, SC ProNet states.

SC ProNet requests affected voters not accept this absentee vote loophole, and encourages those who may lose their right to vote under this new Voter ID bill to contact their office for inclusion in the affidavit it will file.  Volunteers to aid in collection of affidavits are also requested. 

SC ProNet can be contacted by telephone (803-808-3384) or email (network@scpronet.com).  

Instructions to file request for absentee ballot by mail can be viewed at the SEC website.