Who Kicked “Black Klan” Protester Out Of State House?

A key advisor to S.C. Senate Majority Leader Glenn McConnell is disputing the assertion that his boss had a black man dressed in a Ku Klux Klan outfit kicked out of the S.C. State House last month.

In fact, the advisor puts the onus for the man’s removal on the Bureau of Protective Services – which is under Gov. Mark Sanford’s cabinet.

It’s the latest in a bitter back-and-forth over State House security – which of course has absolutely nothing to do with “security” and everything to do with personal politics.

Last year, lawmakers spent millions upgrading security at the State House – a costly, unnecessary and hiccup-laden process.

Of course, when Sanford declined to fork over any additional resources from his Cabinet to help staff these new “security” features, Sen. McConnell introduced legislation creating the Kapitolpolizeitruppe (a.k.a. Capitol Police Force), a legislatively-controlled militia that would “protect” state lawmakers and Supreme Court justices, just not the governor.

Anyway, the protester – seen here – has been a fixture at the State House in recent weeks, carrying a sign critical of McConnell.

The governor’s office bristled at the notion that it was somehow responsible for the man being removed, a claim that several other sources in the Senate are backing up.

Specifically, those sources say they saw McConnell instruct the Senate’s security detail to “have the man removed.”

A source at the Bureau of Protective Services told FITS they were “instructed by Senate staff” to remove the man.

Sanford’s office said that it approves of individuals being escorted out of the building who are being “genuinely disruptive,” but that it opposes a “blanket policy” that would prevent South Carolinians from being allowed to express their opinions.

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