News Bites From Across South Carolina And The Nation

**A Visit To Claflin University From Government Officials Helps To Highlight Infrastructure Needs In Rural South Carolina**

On Friday, April 22, 2022, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan and Congressman James E. Clyburn joined U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Senior Advisor to the President and Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mitch Landrieu to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to rebuilding America’s infrastructure in rural communities. The visit highlighted federal funding opportunities available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for communities in South Carolina.

Regan, Clyburn, Raimondo, and Landrieu toured the Orangeburg water treatment plant and railroad corner redevelopment project, followed by a roundtable with local stakeholders to address water infrastructure needs and discuss federal efforts to ensure residents have access to clean, reliable water. They also joined Claflin University students to discuss the importance of strengthening the relationship between Historically Black Colleges and Universities and federal agencies.

The day concluded with a visit to the Orangeburg County Library’s community conference center for a roundtable discussion to hear from local leaders on the importance of having accessible and affordable broadband in their communities.

**Reggae Nights Concert Series Kicks Off June 3rd At James Island County Park!**

Charleston County Parks kicks off the 2022 Reggae Nights Concert Summer Series at James Island County Park on Friday, June 3! The first concert of the four-part series will feature Amani Smith and the Give Thanks Band.
Gates open at 7:30 p.m. and music begins at 8 p.m. Event gates will close to incoming traffic at 10:30 p.m. and the event will end at 11 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs for seating in the meadow at James Island County Park.

Amani Smith and The Give Thanks Band are based out of Wilmington, NC and specialize in Roots, Dancehall and Rockers Reggae.

The Reggae Nights Summer Concert Series is open to all ages. Food and beverages (beer, wine and Coke products) are available for purchase on site. Crafters and vendors will also be on site with souvenirs available for purchase. Advance tickets are not available, and admission is $10 per person at the gate. Gold Pass holders and kids 12 and under are free. Concerts will take place rain or shine.

No outside alcohol or coolers are permitted into the event. Dogs are welcome, but must remain leashed at all times.

The 2022 Reggae Nights Summer Concert Series lineup:

·June 3: Amani Smith and the Give Thanks Band

·June 24: Signal Fire

·July 15: Crucial Fiya

·Aug. 5: Mystic Vibrations

James Island County Park is located at 871 Riverland Drive. For more information on the Reggae Nights Summer Concert Series, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com or call (843) 795-4386. The Reggae Nights Concert Series is brought to you by Coca-Cola and your Charleston County Parks.

**Denim Day – Jeans For Justice**

The Denim Day story begins in Italy in 1992, when an 18-year old girl was raped by the 45-year old driving instructor who was taking her to her very first driving lesson. He took her to an isolated road, pulled her out of the car, removed her jeans and forcefully raped her.

She reported the rape and the perpetrator was arrested and prosecuted. He was convicted of rape and sentenced to jail. In 1999, he appealed the conviction claiming that they had consensual sex. The Italian Supreme Court overturned the conviction and the perpetrator was released. A statement from the Court argued that because the victim was wearing very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was not rape but consensual sex.

Enraged by the verdict, the women in the Italian Parliament launched a protest wearing jeans on the steps of the Supreme Court. This action prompted women all over Italy to go on a skirt strike and wear jeans and they thanked the court for adding the anti-rape outfit, a comfortable pair of jeans. This protest was picked up by international media which inspired the California Senate and Assembly to do the same on the steps of the Capitol in Sacramento. The first Denim Day was held in Los Angeles and has continued annually since.

The Jeans for Justice campaign is used to educate the community about the fact that rape has nothing to do with what you wear and it is time to take a stand against the societal stigmas that still prevail in our society and our community.

**NAACP's Message to Elon Musk**

"Mr. Musk: free speech is wonderful, hate speech is unacceptable. Disinformation, misinformation and hate speech have NO PLACE on Twitter.

Do not allow 45 to return to the platform.

Do not allow Twitter to become a petri dish for hate speech, or falsehoods that subvert our democracy. Protecting our democracy is of utmost importance, especially as the midterm elections approach. Mr. Musk: lives are at risk, and so is American democracy."

**Congress: Cancel Student Debt To Stimulate The Economy**

We are calling on Congress to immediately relieve the burden of student debt for millions of Americans during this uncertain and frightening time.

Why is this important?

The Coronavirus pandemic is a health crisis like we have never seen before, and it is colliding with the economic crisis of this generation - student loan debt. Lost wages and medical costs will impact families across the country for weeks, months, and years to come. Adding the persistent burden of student debt is a recipe for an economic disaster for millions of everyday people.

**The Death Chamber Doctor’s Dilemma: A Physician In South Carolina Breaks His Silence**

Almost never do doctors who have worked in death chambers speak for themselves. Weeks after the S.C. Department of Corrections announced it was ready to execute by firing squad, a physician shares his story publicly for the first time.

Until the second he saw the warden escort James Terry Roach into South Carolina’s death chamber, the prison doctor’s job had been to keep the man alive. When Roach had started slitting his wrists after being convicted as a teenager, the doctor had been the one to help ease his pain with medication. Now, the warden was strapping those familiar arms into the electric chair as the physician stood nearby. And that head, now being topped with a metal helmet? The doctor was well aware it encased a mind slower than most. He had come to know the disability in Roach’s brain better than nearly anyone else over the past decade of their doctor-patient relationship.

Read more at: https://www.thestate.com/news/state/south-carolina/article260531507.html#storylink=cpy

**We Are With Ukraine**

Since February, MoveOn members across the country have donated more than $1.1 million to humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, supported the push for diplomacy over militarism, and voiced solidarity with the Ukrainian people. THANK YOU for taking action together at this harrowing time. And yet, we know there’s more to do.

The photos from the war in Ukraine, including the attacks on civilians, the miles-long Russian blockade, and families fleeing in fear for their lives, are devastating.

Putin’s aggression—and the death and destruction it is bringing—must continue to be met with serious consequences. That’s why MoveOn members across the country have taken action to support the Ukrainian people and the Administration’s diplomatic efforts to contain and end the war.

Here’s a snapshot of our collective advocacy so far:

We’ve raised over $1.1 million for direct relief efforts in Ukraine from World Central Kitchen and United Help Ukraine.

Over 160,000 members have signed a petition in solidarity with the Ukrainian people

Over 54,000 members have downloaded a “We Are With Ukraine” sign to hang in their community.