Fake National Emergency Protest Columbia 08559Demonstrators respond to President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency by protesting in front of the South Carolina Statehouse Monday, Feb. 18, 2019 in Columbia, S.C. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford

Tootsie Holland (above) says that president Trump’s recent declaration of a national emergency is only part of the reason she came out to protest on Monday afternoon at the SC Statehouse. “I am out here because I think that our government is under great duress. We need to have our democracy back in action - it is being taken away,” says Holland, “I met a young German journalist a few days ago and I asked him what he thought of our government and our president. He said, 'Haven't you people ever heard of Hitler? This is how he started. We don't allow this kind of thing to go on now,” she explains, “And I think that he is absolutely right. This is a grab for power and greed for money.”

Fake National Emergency Protest Columbia 08380Demonstrators respond to President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency by protesting in front of the South Carolina Statehouse Monday, Feb. 18, 2019 in Columbia, S.C. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford

Holland, a resident of Columbia, SC for 50 years, joined about 50 other demonstrators on Monday at the state capital in response to the president’s recent declaration of what they are calling a “Fake National Emergency.” The nationwide protests were scheduled in more than 240 cities and 47 states.

Photos and words by Sean Rayford

Fake National Emergency Protest Columbia 08489Demonstrators respond to President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency by protesting in front of the South Carolina Statehouse Monday, Feb. 18, 2019 in Columbia, S.C. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford Fake National Emergency Protest Columbia 08673Demonstrators respond to President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency by protesting in front of the South Carolina Statehouse Monday, Feb. 18, 2019 in Columbia, S.C. Photo by Columbia SC photographer Sean Rayford

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