Occupy Columbia Keeps The Fires Burning

Travis Bland, one of the main organizers of Occupy Columbia, drew a blank when asked how long the anti-corporate protest based at the S.C. State House might last.

A day and night? A weekend? A few days?

"Who knows?" he said.

Exactly two weeks have passed since Patch posed that question to him, but from all appearances, and based on comments from protesters, .

Now entering its 14th day -- and night -- of occupation as of Oct. 28, it was originally unclear just how long and committed protesters would be after the first day of energy, novelty, and media attention wore off. Bland originally told Patch that folks would spend at least the first night on the State House grounds, and then take it day-by-day. 

Since then, the first-day turnout of approximately 300 has dwindled, but there has been a constant presence on site 24 hours a day, every day. This past Monday night when Patch came out to interview protesters and survey the scene, a dozen or so people were camped out, huddled in sleeping bags. But during daylight hours the numbers can swell to several dozen, making their presence known downtown with marches, slogans, and signs.

Some come to stay, camping out under the stars (or even in the rain), while others work the protest around their work or family schedules. Kyle Lacio of West Columbia, has spent numerous days and nights on site and said he's in it for the long haul.

"Do you realize these people (state lawmakers) are on vacation, basically Christmas vacation?" he said. "So I say, we have to stay here until they come back so we can let them know we've been here waiting on them -- and that they need to start listening to us -- the voice of the people -- and not corporate lobbyists."

Because protesters can't just wave signs continually, organizers have arranged entertainment (a "Zombie Dance Party" is one memorable event), have held teach-ins on any number of topics, and have hosted other groups such as Occupy Charleston, as a means to hold the protest together. 

Plus, Occupy Columbia has not confined its protest to the State House grounds, exclusively. On a few occasions the group has ventured off-site, most notably down Main Street to protest the policies of major banks with corporate presences there, not to mention a march through the University of South Carolina campus, and to the chambers of City Council to protest a possible Walmart near downtown at the site of the current Capital City Stadium.

And because much of the current crowd demographic skews younger, technological ingenuity runs rampant. This is not your father's, one-day-and-done type of protest.

In addition to exploiting numerous forms of social media that make a local protest available to the world, the group has had to come up with ways to make a full-fledged round-the-clock occupation possible. 

While authorities are allowing protesters to occupy the grounds, protesters do not have access to such necessities and conveniences as electricity. No problem. The group is now generating its own, utilizing small solar panels feeding a bank of 12-volt car batteries. The power feeds computers, a wi-fi setup, and whatever else on-site that requires electricity.

If necessary, the group could also generate electricity utilizing bicycles and a donated alternator to create truly people-powered power, said Lacio.
At night, the protest dies down, as does most of that part of downtown surrounding the capitol. That begs the question: Why stick around? Why "occupy."

"Because it's a different kind of protest than what people have seen before," Lacio explained. "It shows commitment. It allows us to build an organization that otherwise couldn't ever be built. And it shows that it means more than any other protest.

"I mean, a million people can march on Washington, D.C., and nothing happens," he added. "But a million people occupying cities throughout the country, and staying around, can have more of an impact. At least I believe it can -- and that's why I'm here."