On Martin Luther King Day and just in front of the Confederate monument at the South Carolina State House, members of the media attempted to find space on an inadequately sized riser as they prepared to cover the appearance of three Democratic presidential candidates. It was my first experience covering King Day at the Dome, a rally first organized in 2000 to protest the flying of the Confederate battle flag on the capitol grounds. I'm not sure where organizers set up a media riser in previous years, but this year, with the absence of a flag pole surrounded by a fence, it was placed in a area previously accessible only Santa Claus, Bree Newsome and State House police.
Here are some stories in the national news using photos I made yesterday for Getty Images. in Columbia, SC.
King Day at the DomeCOLUMBIA, SC - JANUARY 18, 2016: A woman holds a portrait of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King during the King Day at the Dome rally at the S.C. State House Monday, January 18, 2016 in Columbia, South Carolina. The event drew appearances from Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and Hillary Clinton. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
from The Toronto Star
Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley all attended the South Carolina rally honouring Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday.
King Day at the DomeCOLUMBIA, SC - JANUARY 18, 2016: Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, listens to a speaker during the King Day at the Dome rally at the S.C. State House Monday, January 18, 2016 in Columbia, South Carolina. The event drew appearances from Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and Hillary Clinton. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
from The Washington Post
“If we go someplace and order dinner for $15, and we don’t pay, we get a criminal record,” said Sarah Pawlikowski, a tea party activist from Columbia. “Why is Wall Street treated any different?”
From NBC News
But at the NBC News/YouTube debate here Sunday night, Bernie Sanders won by sounding more revolutionary than presidential. That's no surprise for Sanders, who has adopted the posture of an outsider insurgent for his entire career and made "political revolution" a slogan of his 2016 presidential campaign.
from The Guardian
Hillary Clinton addressed a Martin Luther King Day rally at the South Carolina state house in Columbia in an attempt to shore up her support among African American voters in the south as a firewall against the surging tide of Democratic rival Bernie Sanders.
King Day at the DomeCOLUMBIA, SC - JANUARY 18, 2016: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, speaks to the crowd during the King Day at the Dome rally at the S.C. State House Monday, January 18, 2016 in Columbia, South Carolina. The event drew appearances from Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and Hillary Clinton. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
from The Washington Post
COLUMBIA, S.C.—Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders spent Martin Luther King Jr. Day courting African-American voters in South Carolina, laying the groundwork for next month’s consequential primary in the tightening Democratic presidential campaign.
King Day at the DomeCOLUMBIA, SC - JANUARY 18, 2016: Democratic presidential candidate, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley marches in the King Day at the Dome parade at the S.C. State House Monday, January 18, 2016 in Columbia, South Carolina. The event drew appearances from Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and Hillary Clinton. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Too view the rest of my photos from yesterday's rally, you can check them out here: King Day at the Dome - Sean Rayford Photos - Getty Images