On Monday, I gathered with 70 of my progressive friends at the Bi-Lo Center in downtown Greenville to openly protest SC Governor Nikki Haley’s efforts to win a second term. We as progressives in South Carolina are determined to make Nikki Haley run on her deplorable record of cronyism, ineptitude and penny pinching and her policy of politics/profits before people. For more facts click on http://nikkihaleyfacts.com/

I followed the protest rally on Monday by watching Lee Daniels “The Butler” and an inside look at the making of The Butler on Oprah’s Next Chapter. I was moved on so many levels. Go see it and bring every person under the age of 20 with you. Oprah Winfrey said one young person leaving the movie theatre after a showing was heard saying, “Did that really happen?”Yes it did and the younger generation needs to know it.  Forest Whitaker in his role as a share croppers son in the Jim Crow south,who becomes a butler at The White House takes you on a sweeping journey through the birth and aftermath of the civil rights movement in America. It’s the best synopsis of that time period I’ve ever seen and is sure to generate some interesting discussions on the ride home.

This movie’s release coincides with the 50^th anniversary of the March on Washington led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the anniversary of women’s suffrage. I felt so proud to participate in open protest on such a momentous week as this. Protest, organizing and agitating are woven into the fabric of our democracy, it’s part of who we are. Protest moves policy, it affects change. I know it’s not everyone’s thing. I personally don’t have the courage to willingly die or put myself and my family at risk over a political cause, like the Freedom Riders and Dr. King did but…you don’t have to. EVERYONE can do something to move our state/country forward on civil and human rights. If you believe that everyone in America deserves health care and living wages you can help. The key is showing up. Showing up to man the phone banks, go door to door for petition drives, talking to your neighbors, co-workers and friends about causes you believe in and how they can get involved.

Rational people are persuadable. That’s why I believe to the depth of my being that if voters in South Carolina truly understand Nikki Haley’s record of failure they will choose to vote for Senator Vincent Sheheen. You just have to present the facts and offer a reasonable alternative.

Progressive people; we have an entire year to overthrow this failed regime, we can do this, but you have to show up. Get up and get moving.