Ga., S.C. officials warn against violence during weekend protests
AUGUSTA, Ga. - Officials in Georgia and South Carolina are issuing warnings ahead of planned protests and demonstrations this weekend.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and Attorney General Alan Wilson took to social media on Friday in response to protests over immigration raids seen in areas such as Los Angeles.
Friday’s posts came after the Georgia and South Carolina attorneys general ed their peers from 23 other states in ing President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in response to anti-immigration enforcement protests in California.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, who is so far the only announced Republican candidate for governor next year, issued a statement in which he said Georgia is leading a coalition of GOP attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.
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Protests that sprang up in Los Angeles over immigration enforcement raids have begun spreading across the country.
A mixture of protests is planned this weekend across the country, some in response to ICE raids and others themed as “No Kings” protests – including in Augusta and Aiken – which are meant to coincide with a military parade in Washington that falls on President Donald Trump’s birthday.
“We will always defend the right to peacefully protest, but there’s nothing peaceful about arson, assault, and anarchy,” Carr said. “If you set police cars on fire, throw Molotov cocktails at law enforcement, and loot businesses, you must be held able.”
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South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said his office has seen “reports indicating potential coordinated protests and acts of civil disobedience” for Saturday.
“Let me be clear: If you attack law enforcement, destroy public or private property, or endanger lives in our state, you will be arrested, charged, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Wilson said Tuesday.
In a Friday post on X, Wilson also made reference to Israel’s strike on Iran late Thursday as an added reason for “mass protests and civil disobedience for cities across South Carolina.”
“Following last night’s events from overseas, there is a growing sense of unease. Let me be clear: while we fully the right to free speech and peaceful assembly under the First Amendment, lawlessness will not be tolerated. Law and order will remain. Period,” he posted on X.
In response, South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain called Wilson’s warning “inflammatory rhetoric” and was “designed to impress Donald Trump, not serve the people of this state.”
“South Carolinians know our rights,” said Spain. “Peaceful protest is not only protected by the Constitution, but it is also a proud part of our history.”
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster also weighed in on the matter.
“South Carolina’s law enforcement will not tolerate lawless behavior associated with this weekend’s nationwide planned protests,” McMaster posted Friday on X. “Have a nice weekend!”
Earlier in the week, McMaster told reporters that the state would be prepared as warranted.
“If people want to protest and want to voice their opinion, that’s fine. But when you start destroying property, scaring people, hurting people that’s when law enforcement swings into action,” he said. “I would urge people who want to cause trouble in our state to think twice because this is not the place to cause trouble. You will be held able.”
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