Plans for May 4th. Progressive Community Circle Rally Advance in Charleston, SC area

Leadership for Nov. 4^th Environmental and Social Justice Community Circle Rally Stepping Forward

Charleston, SC, USA- Leadership for the East, Environmental Justice; the West, social and economic justice; and the the South, family and community have stepped forward to lead the formation of the Community Circle at the planned May 4^th rally in the SC Lowcountry.

New Banner Illustration for Event Postings

Leadership in the Time of the Virus

Environmental activist Carol Dotterer will hold the Eastern Position on the Circle. To the South, Christian King, director of Pink House, a West Ashley neighborhood resource center will take charge. Erin McKee, Union Leader will coordinate the western quadrant of the circle. Jesse Williams, Charleston County Council candidate and North Charleston Community activist will lead the safety ranger team. William Hamilton, Attorney and Executive director of the Up is Good, PAC will provide overall leadership. Off site social media will be coordinated by Todd Chas, founder of the Goodsharing.net social network for Charleston area progressive activism.

Wendell Galliard, SC Legislator, has stepped up to work with local community leaders to find an appropriate location for the socially distanced demonstration in Charleston or North Charleston with proposed locations including Brittlebank Park on the Ashley River, the greensward at Riverfront park in N. Charleston, locations around the Felix C. Davis Center in Park Circle and the front lawn of the old Navy Hospital.

6 pm, Monday, May 4 has been selected as the time for the rally. A new graphic for social media postings has been prepared. A new summary event and social distancing plan for the event has been issued, dated. April 27. Previous versions are now out of date. A more more detailed operational plan is being drafted and will be reviewed during a Thursday, 9 pm zoom conference.

Possible Rally Footprint at N. Chas. Riverfront Park

Plans for social distancing at the rally are being refined now. Over 200 people will be able to gather without making contact which might transmit the Covid-19 virus. A group of ranger volunteers have been assembled to patrol the demonstration to prevent the sort of careless, instinctive social actions which can transmit the virus. The rally will gather separated household groups around a circle with a radius of 98.6 feet with speakers and musicians in the center. Stations, marked by surveyor’s flags will be spaced 12 feet apart around the circumference of the circle and participants, who must be in a household group isolating together must stay within arm’s length of their assigned flag during the event. Music, speakers and leadership will emanate from the circle’s center.  Input from the stations will be facilitated by FRS radio links provided by the rangers.

A team of off site social media experts has been organized who will work from their homes or places of isolation during the rally to capture and transmit content generated on the ground, in the center of and around the circle. The event will be live streamed on Zoom and Facebook.

Local Effort Connected to Continental #EarthDay2Mayday Mobilization

Lowcountry Up Is Good, PAC 2016 Referendum Campaign

The rally is part of the #CHS #EARTH RISING, a 12 day series of over 20 virtual and real world actions to reenergize the struggle for Environmental and Social Justice in the SC Lowcountry (USA). All planned events comply with social distancing guidelines and best practices. Organizers are challenging what they see as a right wing takeover of the civic square and free speech space in SC society. The effort is part of a continental #EarthDay2MayDay mobilization running from the 50^th. Anniversary of the 1^st Mayday to the 50^th Anniversary of the Kent State Shootings and Charleston’s own Right to Ride Day commemorating Mary Bower’s reconstruction era victory in her fight to desegregate Charleston’s horse drawn streetcars in 1867, considered the first Civil Rights victory in Charleston’s 350 year history.

Other events included in #CHS #EARTHRISING are community participation in CARTA’s online board meeting Wednesday, immediately followed by a community response on Zoom. On Thursday, a masked avenger will deliver handmade, artisan face masks to local leaders. On Wednesday evening Millicent Middleton will webcast a session of Wine Down Wednesday from Johns Island and local socialists will present a night class on Marx.

Carol Dotterer discusses transit with community member.

On Friday, May Day, a banner demanding a return of public transit to Charleston beaches will be pitched along a major roadway and a live stream will be offered. Legislator/Chef JA Moore will sell lunches which include a gourmet snack provided to local healthcare workers and first responders on Friday called "Feed it Forward." The East Side Community Pot Luck is being supported on Sunday. The effort concludes with the Community Circle Rally on Monday at 6 pm. All events are on the calendar at https://www.goodsharing.net/events on Goodsharing.net online.

Updates and More Information

Updates on planning are posted several times a day to the #CHS #EARTHRISING group on Goodsharing.net, Charleston’s new social network for progressive activism, at https://www.goodsharing.net/groups/2218670/ online. Those wishing to contact the organizers may call (843) 870-5299 or email wjhamilton29465@gmail.com.

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For more information contact W. Hamilton (843) 870-5299 or email wjhamilton29464@gmail.com