Higher Ground Moral Day of Action in Columbia
Rev. Joe Darby (podium) addresses the media during press conference during Moral Day of Action at the state capitol in Columbia on Monday
The Rev. Joseph Darby, the Presiding Elder of the Beaufort District of the AME Church called for the adoption of a moral agenda that would include a living wage for all workers, an end to racist discrimination, and quality education as a basic right.
Other press conference speakers discussed the ways in which bad policies have hurt them and their families.
Advocating a $15 an hour minimum wage, a Charleston area food and beverage workers Jonathan Stanley said “I work hard every day and stress over whether I can feed my family,” Christine Jennings, “mom” to both black and white children, described the unwarranted attention her black son receives from law officials. A night-shift employee, he has been subject to numerous stops and searches while her white children have encountered few problems driving the same car. “I’m angry that I no longer trust law enforcement to treat all of my family equally,” said Jennings.
The demonstration–which included a press conference in the lobby and march around the capitol–was one of thirty protests nationwide coordinated by Repairers of the Breach–a faith-based initiative led by Rev William Barber II–who recently gained national attention with his stunning oration at the Democratic National Convention. Barber will be holding a mass “revival” in Charleston on October 23 at the Mt. Zion AME Church.
