High spirits, honking mark Columbia protest over COVID-19 SC business closings
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- For a day when coronavirus closings had thrown 26 million Americans out of work, and the COVID-19 death toll hit 50,000 citizens killed, Friday’s caravan protest against S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster’s mandatory business and school closings to halt the virus spread was almost a festive occasion.
Several hundred people in vans, cars and pickup trucks — hardly any of whom wore masks — drove past the State House in downtown Columbia at midday, for an hour making a circuit on city streets to pass the State House again.
They honked and leaned on their horns for an hour, so loudly that at times people couldn’t talk. From car windows, they waved flags and held placards, gave thumbs up to passersby and shot videos of reporters on the sidewalks. The day was sunny, and nearly everyone seemed to be smiling. Many had children with them.
“Our rights are essential!” shouted one woman, leaning out the cab of a pickup truck as it moved slowly up Gervais Street past the State House on its way to make another circuit and come back again.
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