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‘Our vote is important’: HCDP kicks off primary week with black history month celebration
Democrats across South Carolina will voice their opinion this week on who should represent their party in the upcoming presidential election.
And to kick off a week of campaign rallies and speeches, residents gathered in Conway’s Mason Temple Church of God in Christ to get information on candidates, pray and celebrate black history month.
The Horry County Democratic Party hosted the history celebration and Democratic Presidential Primary Kickoff on Sunday. The event honored black veterans, featured gospel singers and choirs and underscored the importance of voting.
Retired Coastal Carolina University Professor Preston McKever-Floyd said he often hears that individual votes do not matter, but he believes black history proves that wrong.
“If your vote was of no value or did not count, there wouldn’t be such a strategic effort to suppress it,” McKever-Floyd said. “Your vote is important. Our vote is important.”
Representatives for candidates Elizabeth Warren, Tom Steyer and Pete Buttigieg spoke about challenges facing the African-American communities, including making health care more affordable, criminal justice reform and making America more equitable for all citizens.
Two members of Congress traveled to Conway to represent the candidates they support. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., spoke on behalf of Warren. Rep. Anthony Brown, D-M.D., spoke for Buttigeg.
In addition, Melissa Watson, a high school teacher from Dillon, said she will seek the South Carolina District 7 seat to the U.S. House of Representatives currently held by Republican Tom Rice.
“We are going to do better because we are going to demand better and we are going to change the world,” Watson said.
The Democratic Presidential Primary is Saturday, Feb. 29, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. In the lead-up, Sanders, Joe Biden and Steyer both have events in Horry County this week.
Sanders will speak at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Steyer will hold a meet and greet at The Market Common’s Nacho Hippo on Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Biden will have a meet and greet on Feb. 27 at 5:30 p.m at Coastal Carolina University.
The Republican Party of South Carolina opted not to have a primary and will support President Donald Trump for his re-election campaign.
Local and statewide races will have a separate primary on June 9.
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