Cross-burning victims rally at South Carolina State House

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The targets of a cross burning in the Conway area took their fight to the South Carolina State House, where they spoke at the “Liberty and Justice Rally.”

On Wednesday, Monica and Shawn Williams called on lawmakers to a state hate crime law. Lawmakers and social justice advocates ed the couple, where they also called for more diversity on the state Supreme Court.

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This comes after the Williams’ found a burning cross steps away from their backyard in November 2023. Historically, cross-burning has been seen as a hate symbol in the South during the Jim Crow era.

The Williams’ neighbors, Worden Butler and Alexis Hartnett were arrested following the incident and face charges of second-degree harassment.

Both the NAA and FBI launched their own investigations following the incident. Butler and Hartnett will return to court in March in connection with the incident.

After the incident, Conway Mayor Barbara Blain-Bellamy had city staff looking into a hate crimes ordinance in January, one month after she said it was up to the state to do something about it.

Blain-Bellamy said she thinks an ordinance could help a wide umbrella of groups who face discrimination because it would increase the penalties for those who commit the crime.