Greenwood County Democratic Party

Message from the Chair

On Wednesday, Apr 28 at 9 pm, President Joe Biden will address Congress for the first time. Senator Tim Scott has been picked to deliver the GOP “Response” to President Biden’s words.

We think it’s important to hear opposing viewpoints, so to help make it more palatable (and to help keep you awake at that late hour) we’ve come up with “Tim Scott Bingo”!

Just mosey on over to our Tim Scott Bingo web page and choose any of the 5 Bingo cards to download. Then tune in and see how quickly you can achieve BINGO! by matching phrases on the card with actual words spoken by the Senator. We’ll even have a Live Tracker available to help you check if your card’s phrases have been spoken.

We hope you have fun with this little pastime!

GWCDP News

We have a great Virtual Breakfast Meeting lined up for this Saturday, May 1, at 9 am. Our featured speakers include:

Christopher Byrant is a DC attorney by way of Charleston, SC specializing in voting rights. He will talk with us about voting suppression in SC and how we stack up against other states in the country. He also shares what it was like to sit 10 feet away from Dylan Roof at a trial hearing!

Rev Alexis Carter Thomas may be a relative newcomer to Greenwood, but she’s already made a huge impact on our community! She will speak about the journey that brought her here, talking with youth about the Derek Chauvin verdict, and how the Lander University “Race and Identity Dialogue” series came about.

David Gaskin is the GWCDP Executive Committeeman, a cornerstone member of Bailey Bethel AME, and a veteran of the Vietnam War. He will share with us his story and opinions about what’s happening in the political world today.

We will also have Legislative Updates from Denise Waldrep, GWCDP Updates from Chair Bill Kimler, and an open forum for Zoom participants at the end.

Please register now so that you can get the connection links and email reminders as the event draws close.

Message from the Chair

I have a 21 year old son who just graduated college and is starting to make his own way through life. We’ve had many talks over the years: About being nice to others and not bullying, about the  importance of education, about not giving up, and the always-awkward moment about the birds and the bees.

But I’ve never had to have a conversation with him about how to behave in a manner during an encounter with law enforcement that doesn’t put his life in danger. 

Twice in the past month I’ve attended forums which enlightened me how “The Talk” is a common, and unfortunate, part of life in African-American households. First was at the Lander University sponsored session on Race & Identity titled “Parenting and Telling Stories to Children“. The second was a broadcast of Finding Me Podcast featuring Bishop Oliver T. McCray Jr. I highly recommend our members take some time to watch these recordings.

There is no intention here whatsoever to paint law enforcement with a broad brush. There are not many jobs out there more fraught with risk and they certainly deserve our support and respect. However, in the business world there’s a common phrase: “Perception is reality”. The reality for many families in America is that their sons and daughters have to take extra precautions for their safety because of the color of their skin.

I commend Bishop McCray for taking a proactive approach in Greenwood in hosting “Dialogue with Greenwood City Community: Police Relations” this upcoming Tuesday (see below for details). Having these two-way conversations between citizens and the men and women who protect & serve go a long way to helping change those perceptions. Events like this build the trust that’s necessary to prevent Greenwood from becoming the next Minneapolis, Ferguson, or North Charleston.

Your Voting Rights

Voting rights attorney, Christopher Bryant, will be a featured speaker at our next Virtual Breakfast Meeting on Saturday, May 1 at 9 am (please register here to secure your spot).

Having practiced law for many years in Charleston, Mr. Bryant has been involved in a number of high-profile cases in South Carolina including the Dylan Roof trial.

He will share with us what he has been seeing with the recent wave of voting suppression laws throughout the country and what we need to be on the lookout for here in South Carolina.

Message from the Chair

Tomorrow evening will be a momentous event for the fledgling Young Democrats of Greenwood. Formed only a year ago, they’ve organized their largest profile activity to date: A Legislative Town Hall that will be conducted virtually, featuring a number of prominent elected officials at various levels of state government. Scroll down for details!

I am so very proud of their Chair, Jitwan Floyd, and the other members of the Executive Committee. Jitwan graduates from Lander University this year, and I’m excited to see how the new leadership will grow and continue to be a voice for political activists of all ages.

I also want to express my pride and appreciation for our Legislators who answered the call to support the YDG and update their constituents in this forum. They are encouraging participation in the political process and their words are sure to inspire future engagement from the younger voters.

We hope to see you there!

Your Voting Rights

New Voting ID Requirements in GA
There has been a lot of back & forth regarding the new Voting Suppression laws enacted in Georgia. Among the many new rules added is the requirement to include ID information when voting by mail. The Republican position is “What’s the big deal?”

Marc E. Elias, lawyer and founder of Democracy Docket, observed the following which will lead to a reduction of votes counted:

The new Georgia law will require voters to submit ID to vote by mail. If they use their driver’s license, they need to provide the #.

One of the two numbers below is correct. If they put the other, it will be rejected.

Are you sure you would pick the right one?

GWCDP News

Click the poster below to register for this unique event!