COLUMBIA, S.C. — Hundreds of people gathered from across the state for King Day at the Dome in Columbia honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Every seat was filled and there was a standing-room only on the front State House grounds.
Many wanted to see and hear from Vice President Kamala Harris, each person with a story for why they were there.
"I came today because I've been coming for as far back as I can remember because the battle still goes on,” Jim Crosby, one of the hundreds in the crowd Monday said.
He said he was born during World War II and hasn't seen much change but hopes Monday was a start.
"Maybe just a little bit of headway from where I was in 1944 when I was born but I can't feel it,” he said.
While some came to hear a message for change others were just happy to see what they say was history in the making.
"As the mother of an 8-year-old daughter having her see the opportunity of a black vice president who also is part of the sorority her mom is a part of is so special," Ashley Chapman said.
Later during Harris's speech, there was an interruption in the crowd, protesters in support of Palestine. Security was tight at the event requiring every person to go through a security gate before finding a place to listen and see the Vice President. When the marchers from Zion Baptist Church arrived to Gervais Stree,t they had to undergo security screening before entering State House grounds, which was a surprise to Crosby.
"I wasn't quite expecting what I had to get here to hear what they have to say because of the security,” he said.