‘Peaceful protest,’ vigil planned next Saturday at SC State House

A group plans a peaceful protest and vigil in honor of recent African-American victims killed by police next Saturday, Oct. 1, at the S.C. State House.

The organizers are not affiliated with the official Black Lives Matter organization, which has a local chapter. But a Facebook page promoting the event uses a “Black Lives Matter” cover photograph.

The protest will be held the week following several nights of sometimes-violent protesting in Charlotte after Keith Lamont Scott was shot to death by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer.

“We are tired of this systematic killing of our brothers, sisters, mothers, sons, partners,” the organizers wrote on the event’s Facebook page. “Let us create a space for discussion, grief, gathering, and healing.”

On Friday afternoon, more than 150 people had indicated on Facebook that they planned to attend the rally, and another 400-plus had responded that they are “interested” in the event.

The State House Department of Administration does not have any reservations for activities on the grounds this Saturday, a spokesperson said.

This story was originally published September 23, 2016 at 5:30 PM with the headline "‘Peaceful protest,’ vigil planned next Saturday at SC State House."