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Last weekend, anti-Donald Trump protesters operating under the “No Kings” banner assembled across the state of South Carolina as a part of nationwide demonstrations against the current administration.
No Kings organizers billed their events as “a nationwide day of defiance.”
“From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks… (we are) taking action to reject authoritarianism — and show the world what democracy really looks like,” they noted.
In Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, Myrtle Beach and an assortment of other South Carolinian cities, thousands of protesters took to the streets to express their discontent with Trump’s administration.
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“It heartens me to see the diversity of the age, race, color and creed,” said Miachel Ostapiej. “We’re all here, we all have a right to do this, and we should be able to do this whenever we want in a peaceful manner,”
Ostapiej is a Marine Corps veteran who helped organize the Brittlebank Park protest put on by the “50501 South Carolina” group last Sunday.
“I did 25 years in the Marines and I was happy to do it, it was my honor and privilege to do it,” Ostapiej told FITSNews. “I lived in Japan for six years, Germany for three years, I was in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries. I’ll tell you honestly – any of the people I met – they all want to raise their families, be safe, be educated, have food and water. That’s all they want, and I think that’s the problem with the Republican party right now – they think, they’re in this little bubble.”
“I’ll be honest – I was a Republican until 2016 and I didn’t vote for Trump then, and I certainly didn’t vote for him these last two terms,” Ostapiej added.
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Ostapiej’s wife, Anne Ostapiej, was the principal organizer of the Brittlebank Park protest in Charleston. She gave a brief speech at the beginning of the event, referencing her positive relationship with local police officials – who were present at the event in patrol vehicles, on bicycles and on horseback.
“They are supportive,” Ostapiej said. “If you watch the news you know where the trouble’s coming from – and it’s not us.”
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While the Ostapiejs – and most event attendees expressed a desire for the protests to remain peaceful – invited speaker Joe Walsh took a different tact.
A former arch-conservative member of the Tea Party and U.S. congressman from Illinois, Walsh has become an anti-Trump zealot. Earlier this month, FITSNews reported on his move to South Carolina and plans to challenge veteran incumbent U.S. senator Lindsey Graham.
During his remarks, Walsh employed charged rhetoric – challenging rally-goers to “do shit you never thought you would do.”
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Former GOP Rep. Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) told Charleston rallygoers to "Fight, Fight, Fight," adding the "next 16 months are about doing shit you never thought you would do," and previewing forthcoming "civil disobedience." @FITSNews #NoKings pic.twitter.com/8BW8qlySL1
— Dylan Nolan (@dnolan2000) June 15, 2025
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Walsh, who professionally agitates against Trump and presumably has a good idea what the liberal donors who funded the organization of nationwide “No Kings” rally have planned next, also previewed forthcoming “civil disobedience.”
Walsh’s battle cry – evocative of William Wallace – drew cheers from the crowd, but his entreaties to “fight, fight, fight,” didn’t match the laid-back attitudes of most rally attendees.
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“I already heard that guy’s speech yesterday,” a man who identified himself as “Todd” told FITSNews in reference to the identical speech given the previous day in Charleston’s Hampton Park. “Sometimes you come out and there are speakers who are trying to cover topics that you may or may not be in full agreement with … whatever.”
When asked what brought him out to back-to-back days of protests, Todd expressed frustration with the choices available to voters.
“I don’t really consider myself a Democrat, but then again when it comes time to vote there are only two choices, Republicans… there’s just something bad enough about them that I can’t bear to bring myself to do it even if I agree with part of their platform,” he said.
As for Trump, Todd said “I’m not even opposed to all of his ideas… its just that on a lot of things he goes way too far.”
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Todd acknowledged former president Barack Obama managed to deport more people per day in his administration than Trump has so far in his second term, but noted Obama “didn’t brag about it, he didn’t wallow in other people’s misery and say ‘hey, look at these families I’m deporting… look at me.'”
Todd also addressed the efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), formerly led by multi-billionaire Elon Musk.
“With DOGE, of course there’s waste in the government, but you remove it with precision, you don’t lay waste and then later on figure out what we should have kept… It’s very inefficient,” he said.
Todd expressed his dislike of both Trump the current polarized political environment.
“I just don’t like him… he has lowered the office, it’s like an extension of his wrestling persona, it’s just entertainment, but unfortunately it feels like ping pong, we’re going too far left and then too far right,” he said.
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The weekend’s Charleston protests were (genuinely) mostly peaceful – although the Charleston Police Department (CPD) drew criticism from the left and the right for its handling of multiple situations.
Conservative talk radio host Corey Allen was identified by event organizers in the crowd at Sunday’s Brittlebank Park protest, and was instructed to leave the permitted protest area or be arrested by CPD officers. Allen posted a video of the encounter on his Facebook page.
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“I was told by City of Charleston Police Department under the control of William Cogswell Jr., the current mayor, that I would be arrested for simply filming an event in #charlestonsc and that…well, is unconstitutional,” Allen wrote.
Allen told post commenters that he considered going to jail over the matter, but desisted because he didn’t want to put his wife – who helps him take care of her ailing father – in a position to bail him out of jail.
“Plus, they don’t allow you to smoke cigarettes in jail, ” Allen added.
Left-wing protesters heading southward down the peninsula carrying Mexican and “Fuck Trump” flags were equally incensed at CPD’s use of mounted officers to effect the arrest of 33-year-old protester Matthew Colburn of Lake City, S.C., whom the department alleged was engaged in public disorderly conduct.
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“As trained, the mounted unit, specifically Mount Riley, arrived to create space between the officers, the arrestee, and those attempting to disrupt the arrest,” a Charleston Police Department press release said. “This was done effectively and without further incident.”
“Claims that anyone was slammed into a brick wall, trampled, or that the rider lost control of the reins are false,” the release added. “No one was injured, Mount Riley was not harmed, and the group continued walking south on King Street following the encounter.”
The incident drew the criticism of some who watched video of the encounter.
“This is so disappointing too, because the entire day went so well —cops and protestors,” one Redditer opined. “I do think CPD should provide some explanation as to why they went all John Wayne on a group that seems to just be moving along.”
Lowcountry state senator Tom Fernandez also drew the ire of Charleston protesters by executing a middle-finger drive-by of Hampton Park demonstrators in his custom $200,000, Kevlar-coated, 6X6 ‘Hellfire Apocalypse’ truck, an incident explored in further detail in our previous coverage.
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?? NO KINGS: COLUMBIA
— Andrew Fancher (@RealAndyFancher) June 14, 2025
Law enforcement officers “guesstimate” that 2,000 to 3,000 people gathered at the South Carolina State House on Saturday for the NO KINGS protest — one of more than a dozen demonstrations across the state held as part of a “nationwide day of defiance”… pic.twitter.com/aiQqISwRw8
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FITSNews also had boots on the ground in Columbia, S.C. last Saturday, where our Andrew Fancher documented “2,000 to 3,000 people gathered at the South Carolina State House.”
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Democratic S.C. house representative Jermaine Johnson told Columbia rally-goers that the S.C. General Assembly is full of members who follow Trump’s lead and who are “following the talking points of Fox News.”
“They are following the talking points of all of the far right individuals running across the state,” he added.
Johnson specifically blasted S.C. attorney general Alan Wilson for issuing warnings about potential violent protests ahead of the peaceful assemblies – which he claimed was political grandstanding. Both Wilson and Johnson are exploring 2026 gubernatorial bids.
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If there are credible threats, then tell us.
— Jermaine Johnson ?? (@Dr_JLJohnson) June 12, 2025
If you’re making it up, then you’re no better than @NancyMace as you both say anything to try to get elected governor. #SCPol https://t.co/m6eSNw89Z7
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“From my vantage point—mostly from the State House grounds along Gervais Street—the crowd felt electric and welcoming: to cameras, to the overwhelming law enforcement presence, and to those trickling in from the Famously Hot S.C. Pride festival down the road,” Fancher reported.
Fancher described rally attendees as representing a number of demographics, similar to the groups seen in other parts of the state throughout the weekend.
“As I moved through the crowd—an unlikely mix of Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, military veterans, scantily dressed youth and furries—one attendee recognized me from FITSNews and jokingly warned me not to use ‘Trump math’ when tallying up the number of attendees,” Fancher recounted.
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“According to several law enforcement officers on scene, attendance at Saturday’s protest was ‘guesstimated’ at between 2,000 and 3,000—with many demonstrators pausing to thank officers for keeping them ‘safe’ during those conversations,” Fancher noted.
While the protests showcased the views of those who oppose Trump and his policies, it’s worth recalling he has carried South Carolina in three consecutive elections – winning last November with 58.23% of the vote. Trump also easily vanquished former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley in the 2024 GOP primary election – drawing 59.79% of the vote.
Count on FITSNews to continue tracking the Palmetto State’s starring role in national politics…
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
(Via: Travis Bell)
Dylan Nolan is the director of special projects at FITSNews. He graduated from the Darla Moore school of business in 2021 with an accounting degree. Got a tip or story idea for Dylan? Email him here. You can also engage him socially @DNolan2000.
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14 comments
Can someone please explain the “they didn’t burn witches, they burned women” sign?
I’ll try, it’s subtle, but probably appropriate. In colonial America, Christian Theocrats stoked fear and hate among the population of people the government labeled witches. They then used that fear, hate, and religion to solidify their power. They displayed that power by killing innocent women whom they accused of being witches. This both quelled the speech by those who objected and allowed those in charge to murder people who did speak out without repercussion. Whenever you merge religion and government, the religion becomes government unchained.
This is much the same way Trump and his cult are stoking hate and anger against immigrants, gay people, transgender people, minorities, and non-Christians, and anyone who stands up to Trump to justify taking unconstitutional actions without repercussions and to solidify authoritarian power over the nation.
So idiotic hyperbole. No one was “burned as a witch” in America – ever. They did hang 14 women (and 5 men (one other man died during torture))
Well, it’s certainly a relief that they only hanged innocent women and men in America and/or tortured them to death. That changes everything.
I think it’s funny that more people attended No Kings protests in South Carolina than attended Trump’s birthday dictator parade.
Colonel, you are a military man. I have to ask. Was it a silent protest that the soldiers marching in Trump’s dictator parade did not bother to synchronize their march as they passed by Trump? I assume those guys had been taught how to do that right?
You know, we’ve been talking about that in the office (while retired from the Army, I still work for the Army). I think the absolutely ABYSMAL marching skills of most of our Army actually comes from a focus on what’s important and D&C ain’t it.
In the 1600-1800s, drill was critical in the positioning of forces to mass fires. The adoption of rifles with the increased range and accuracy and the dramatic improvements in artillery made massed ranks suicidal (though the French and English had to relearn the lesson under fire as late as WWI).
When I enlisted 40+ years ago, we did a lot of drill as privates, then later as Cadets in ROTC. By the time I got to the Infantry Officers Basic Course in the mid 80s “drill” was something privates did in basic to learn discipline. We just don’t focus on drill anymore beyond “how to” in basic and holding formations in regular units. Lousy appearance in parades aside, it really isn’t worth the effort. You probably noticed that the Old Guard units were all in perfect step as that is part of what they do and hence it is still important.
I’ll take a Soldier who can lay in a 240B and provide effective grazing fire over one who can do a pretty counter column any day. As for your suspicion that it was a protest of some kind – no, enlistments are WAY up and Soldiers appreciate the efforts of “The bad orange man”.
One thing missed by those saying no one was at the parade is that a: it was raining off and on, b: despite Fox’s TERRIBLE coverage (and the lack of any other MSM coverage) it was heavily watched on Fox and CNN and c: there were a ton of people on the mall looking at all the exhibits and talking with Soldiers. The Navy and USMC parades are next up. I’m betting both will be conducting D&C training in earnest.
I think there was sparse turnout because Trump made the day about him, not the Army. If they had gone through with the Army’s original plan of concerts, fireworks, and displays on the Mall. I think there would have been a bigger turnout. When Trump turned the day into his Russian Style dictator parade, you could not attend without being seen as a supporter of the Orange Menace.
As for the number of people on the Mall, the pictures don’t show a large turnout. In fact, one local said the number of people on the Mall that day was not much more than on a normal weekend day during tourist season.
I had not heard about the two new military parades. This one cost 20+ million dollars. Are we paying for two more like that? Let me say I am a hard no. What a disgusting waste of money. Give the money to health care for Veterans or housing for homeless Veterans. We are already paying 3 million a month for Trump’s golf trips. I have no interest in his toy soldier parades. Perhaps they will teach them to goose-step this time.
The military is making a huge mistake with these displays. No one sees them as honoring our service men and women. They see them as a threat or a tribute to Trump’s vanity.
“Absolutely not. We are the pre-eminent power on Earth. For us to try and imitate what the Soviets are doing in Red Square would make us look weak.” Dewight D. Eisenhour
I understand Trump blasted the drunk former Fox Anchor for the crappy parade. Said it was not menacing enough, and not what he expected. I guess he was expecting a Putin-style Victory Day parade, with rows of tanks, nuclear missiles, crowds cheering for him, and goose-stepping soldiers loyal to him.
I think it is funny that you think you know it all when it is salient you are full of yourself
You need to get a life.
The Greenville gathering may have been larger than either Columbia or Charleston – interesting. And despite the warning of unrest and violence, it was mostly just a place to read some really entertaining signs and chat with others who feel the same about what’s going on in our country. If there were counter-protesters, I didn’t see or hear them.
It’s a scary thought having a bunch of delusional people all in one place at the same time protesting. Leave the little kids at home for petes sake. Happy to live in this country and for those who are protesting can certainly go find another place to live; there are far worse places where you have not as many rights. When an illegal kills a member of their family, maybe there will be a different tune.
The Greenville protest was estimated to be 4K-5K. It was very peaceful with some short speeches and patriotic music. It was encouraging to see that people are finally catching on to what Trump is doing! The US has lost the trust and respect of our (former) allies, and the world is laughing at us. DOGE was a joke and now children in the poorest countries are staving to death while food supplies for them sit in a warehouse. We have half-brain RFK, Jr stopping medical research and firing scientists so more of us will be dying of infectious disease and cancer. The list goes on and on. I am also a former Republican (until 2016), but there is no Republican Party anymore – only sycophants to Trump.
Lemme get this straight…The No Kings Protests were in reaction to Trump’s military parade to celebrate his birthday. SOOO, Trump’s juvenile longing to see tanks and helicopters on his birthday not only cost a shitload of taxpayer money. But it also cost many local municipalities a lot of money for police presence. Other than stroking the ego of a man-child, what was the purpose of the Russian-style military parade?
Safe to say, MENSA was not on site doing any recruiting