Protesters picket green group in International Drive dispute

Nearly two dozen protesters ignored the sweltering heat to picket along Georgetown’s historic downtown district Wednesday, with a bottle of water in one hand and a sign held high in the other while chanting 1960s-era slogans directed at environmentalists.

The group of Conway residents who live along S.C. 90 and support the construction of International Drive linking their neighborhood to Carolina Forest say they are frustrated with the Coastal Conservation League for challenging the road project in state court.

Protesters say the league and other environmental groups opposed to construction are holding the project hostage through the court system.

Environmentalists want the proposed four-lane road near the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve to include bear tunnels, and challenged the project in the state Administrative Law Court during February hearings.

Earlier this month, the judge ruled in favor of the county to begin building the road when he upheld needed water quality permits issued by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. The environmental groups asked the judge last week to reconsider his decision and may pursue a court appeal.

Organizer Felicia Soto said supporters of International Drive construction will regularly protest the league’s headquarters on Front Street until all court options are exhausted.

“We will continue to fight to the end,” Soto said. “They took it to court, the judge rendered a decision, so they should live with it.”

Taxes have been collected to build the road since the project was approved by residents in a 2006 countywide vote. Ernie Sapp says the proposal to build International Drive is the reason he chose to live in the S.C. 90 area.

“This is just a delaying tactic,” Sapp said. “They lost in court once, and they are expected to lose again.”

The protesters marched in front of the league’s headquarters and other shops for nearly two hours, their faces reddening under the sweltering sun, wearing construction orange shirts with the words “Pave International Drive,” and carrying signs that read “Human lives not important to CCL,” “Pave for Safety,” and “Let it Go.”

Rachel McDaniel, who works in a downtown shop near the conservation league, shrugged off the protestors and said she had no sympathy for their cause.

“I’m more concerned about animals than people,” McDaniel said.

Nancy Cave, north coast director of the league, was not in the office during most of the protest, but said she saw the activity when she stopped by the office.

“They have every right to protest, and whether I agree with what they are protesting, I don’t, they certainly have a right to do it,” Cave said.

“Instead of protesting, I might suggest they talk to officials about negotiating and finding a solution,” Cave said. “We are willing to have meaningful negotiations.”

Protesters say the time for negotiation has passed. The court has made its ruling, and environmentalists should abide by that decision.

“We voted on the tax, it was challenged in court, ruled on, and I expect to be able to travel on that road soon,” said protestor Anita Anderson.

This story was originally published July 20, 2016 at 6:27 PM with the headline "Protesters picket green group in International Drive dispute."