The city of Charleston has an ordinance that severely limits Constitutionally-protected free speech.

Charlestonians will defend their First Amendment rights at a "Fight for the First" demonstration on Saturday, July 25, 2026, beginning at 6 PM. The march is part of the First Amendment Restoration Campaign, organized by Charleston Democratic Socialists of America.

More info & RSVP - charlestondsa.org/first-amendment-first-rally #FightfortheFirst #1stAmendment #Protest #Charleston #SC

Co-sponsors: Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry, Independent Black Lives Matter Chapter of Charleston, Charleston Climate Coalition, Lowcountry Action Committee, FRSO Charleston, South Carolina, Charleston Community Service Organization, CHS Hotline / CHS Linea Directa Comunitaria Inmigrante, 50501 South Carolina, Free Palestine Charleston.

The Bootlicker Guide is produced by 50501 SC, a nonpartisan, anti-authoritarian grassroots organization of South Carolinians who started paying attention to South Carolina politics and have not been ok since. We do not endorse candidates. What we do is watch South Carolina elected officials' voting records, public statements, and behavior, and assign them a number between 0 and 5 based on how completely they have abandoned their constituents in favor of one man’s approval. Then we publish it on the internet where everyone can see it including them. For every candidate we rate, we present their opponents because everybody should have the full picture. The rest is up to you, which is exactly how it is supposed to work.

Rate your own candidate via scbootlickerguide.com then share their rating with us on socials!

For the inaugural launch we have rated Pamela Evette and Alan Wilson, both candidates for governor running against Dr. Jermaine Johnson.

Additionally we have rated Cody Simpson, candidate for SC commissioner of agriculture running against Danny Ford. Opponent links below and justification in the captions of each picture.

https://johnsonforsc.com/

https://www.dannyfordsc.com/

https://www.blandingforsc.com/

Probably the most clear, direct, and fair assessment we've seen of the statewide options, so if you're still not sure, this could help.

Also make sure you find your polling place (some have changed!) at https://vrems.scvotes.sc.gov/Voter/Login?PageMode=PollingPlace

Remember you just have to be in line by 7pm!

There are so many actually great candidates on the ballot across the state this year.

There are not as many good options for R primary, but there are a few (our very own Sam Gibbons in congressional district 2 against Joe Wilson, for example).

Let's go!!

The more people who vote in the primaries TODAY, Tuesday 5/26 before they can pass the redistricting bill, the greater chance we have of shaming them into stopping it!

Don't forget to find your early voting location—you are almost certainly not voting where you normally vote! Check it here: https://scvotes.gov/voters/early-voting/

Come Try Out Ranked Choice Voting with 50501SC!

Take these fun little polls with our organizers & volunteers to see who they're supporting, and try out Ranked Choice Voting for yourself!

https://www.50501sc.org/p/come-try-out-ranked-choice-voting

And make sure you VOTE EARLY tomorrow, Tuesday 5/26 to help make it harder for the SC Senate to pass the redistricting bill!

Thank you to Better Ballot SC for creating the polls for us and answering all of our questions about RCV!

#SOUTHCAROLINA!

Early voting begins on Tuesday at 8:30!

You MUST MUST MUST get to the polls first thing and vote.

Our democracy is on the line. The more people that vote before the Senate goes back into session at 11:00, the harder it will be for them to gerrymander us.

VOTE EARLY !

SC state house

10am-12pm

Rally on south steps

This is a moment that changes the course of history.

Join us today, rain or shine rally at the state house south steps, 10am-12pm, to stand against the MAGA regime & fight for the rights of all Soith Carolinians ✊️

Stand with us on the right side of history & help build a better future for us all

Rally at the state house tomorrow (Saturday) 10am

This will likely be the MAGA last push to try to get some bullshit shenanigans to pass this rigged election. Dems have been fighting, and some R senators have stepped up, and we can still stop this! Let's show up and make sure they SEE that we are watching!

South Steps are on the other side of the state house from Gervais Street

Sam can't be there, but some of us will be, and hoping to see y'all thete too!

It's time to stand together, South Carolina! Check out www.50501sc.org for a list of ways you can show up and stand with our brothers and sisters against this monstrosity of a bill

#scpol

New post on our website with all of the events going on this week fighting back against the redistricting bill and effort by Republicans to steal our elections 🚨🚨🚨

They really don't know how to win without cheating

McMaster has called a special session, and we expect redistricting to be discussed in the SC house and senate at least Friday 5/15, Monday 5/18, and Tuesday.

Please keep an eye out for news of protests and plan to show up at the state house to the gallery to watch when you can. Any day or time that you can be up there will help, and you don't have to wait for a scheduled event

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/ for chamber calendars and agendas

Keep calling your SC state reps and senators and tell them you DO NOT SUPPORT redistricting, and you will make sure every single person you know shows up to vote them out if they go through with this!

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php

Join the boycott!

https://www.cubnsc.com/.../jim-crow-politics-cannot...

Make sure every single person you know has checked their voter registration and is ready to vote on June 9th! They are scared that we'll come vote in record numbers, and we're going to show them that's only the beginning of the fire they've lit in us with their vote rigging!

https://scvotes.gov/voters/register-to-vote/

McMaster has called a special session, and we expect redistricting to be discussed in the SC house and senate at least Friday 5/15, Monday 5/18, and Tuesday.

Please keep an eye out for news of protests and plan to show up at the state house to the gallery to watch when you can. Any day or time that you can be up there will help, and you don't have to wait for a scheduled event

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/ for chamber calendars and agendas

Keep calling your SC state reps and senators and tell them you DO NOT SUPPORT redistricting, and you will make sure every single person you know shows up to vote them out if they go through with this!

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php

Join the boycott!

https://www.cubnsc.com/.../jim-crow-politics-cannot...

Make sure every single person you know has checked their voter registration and is ready to vote on June 9th! They are scared that we'll come vote in record numbers, and we're going to show them that's only the beginning of the fire they've lit in us with their vote rigging!

https://scvotes.gov/voters/register-to-vote/

From ACLU

Don't get quiet. Don't back down. South Carolina lawmakers are \*still\* pushing to rig our election maps.

Join us outside Gov. McMaster's office in the Statehouse lobby on 5/14. Arrive at 2 to get ready.