COLUMBIA, S.C. _ People who want to reopen the economy amid the coronavirus are planning a protest with their cars in downtown Columbia at midday Friday.
The event is named "Operation Gridlock SC Columbia Reopen & Rescue SC Economy " on one Facebook page, and "Drive to Thrive SC" on another Facebook page.
Columbia police chief Skip Holbrook said Wednesday that his 435-officer department is ready for whatever happens. Other South Carolina law enforcement agencies, including the State Law Enforcement Division and Richland County Sheriff's Department, will be in reserve if needed, Holbrook said.
"We are aware of it, we are tracking it," Holbrook said.
No matter how many people show up, the event illustrates sharp divides in visions of how to cope with the societal upheaval caused by the pandemic.
On one side are concerns about more than 26 million new jobless, thousands of businesses and schools shut down and a plunging stock market. On the other, worries about a 100-year global pandemic of the potentially fatal COVID-19 virus that in the last two months has killed more than 45,000 Americans and overwhelmed many hospitals. The disease is easily transmitted and has no cure and no vaccine.
Police intelligence analysts have already identified the event organizers and the department has spoken with them to ensure good communication. Hobrook, who declined to identify the organizers, said he expects no trouble.
The event is planned from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. local time Friday. Demonstrators are urged to blow their horns at 12:30 pm. At least two different maps of the Columbia streets that protesters are supposed travel have been posted on Facebook in recent days.
"We are making sure they can have their event, with their safety and everybody else's safety," said Holbrook, who declined to identify event organizers. "They don't plan on getting out of their vehicles, they indicated they intend to follow the rules of the road, not obstruct traffic _ their plan is to be seen and heard."
Facebook posts didn't identify event organizers. Whoever they are, they are likely not from Columbia. One post on Facebook encouraged protesters to converge on the University of South Carolina's Horseshoe grassy center _ a physical impossibility if many cars show up given the relatively narrow streets around that part of the USC main campus.
"We are coordinating with other law enforcement agencies, but at this time don't anticipate any gathering on the Horseshoe itself," said USC spokesperson Jeff Stensland. "We would not have any issue with peaceful protests if they were to occur."
Unlike similar protesters in other state capitals, where video of heavily armed men brandishing assault rifles showed their distaste for stay-at-home orders, Columbia's protesters won't be allowed to show off their guns in public. In South Carolina, state laws prohibit "open carry" of weapons.
The protesters expected to show likely represent a minority of Americans. According to a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, nearly 6 in 10 people said in a survey last week they feared lifting too soon "restrictions aimed at slowing the (coronavirus) outbreak." Only about three out of 10 people were more worried about the economy.
Investigative news stories in national media have linked the various protests to networks of influential conservative leaders and groups with "close connections to the White House," as a Wednesday story in The New York Times put it.
Although President Donald Trump's own scientific advisers are urging people to stay at home as the best defense against coronavirus, Trump has recently at times urged the protesters on, tweeting messages of support such as "Liberate Virginia." Virginia's governor has issued a stay-at-home directive.
In South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster has directed people to stay home except for essential trips, such as to the doctor. But he has also opened some businesses with orders that people maintain physical separation.
There is no preventive vaccine and no cure at this time for the coronavirus, which is easily spread and can cause death. Staying at home and away from others is regarded is the best way to stop the disease from spreading. In the last two months, more than 43,000 Americans have died from the disease, including 140 South Carolinians.
Before the coronavirus pandemic hit two months ago, Trump was basing his hopes for reelection largely on a prosperous economy and a rising stock market. But with more than 20 million Americans now out of work, thousands of businesses shuttered and a tanking stock market, Trump's main campaign message has taken a sharp blow.
Although video clips aired on national news shows have shown other state protests of groups whose members neither wore masks or practiced social distancing, organizers of Friday's protests in Columbia have specified that participants should stay in their cars and "follow all state and local traffic laws."
"Being able to publicly assembly and demonstrate is a constitutional right, and we respect that," Holbrook said. "We do our best to always accommodate people that are assembling to express their beliefs. We're a state capital, and we deal with that a lot. We respect that, and we're always going to be professional."
