The families of the nine parishioners who were killed at the Emanuel AME Church and Walter Scott – who was killed by police in North Charleston in April – will lead the Days of Grace March in Charleston, SC on Saturday, September 5.
“My son had a favorite quote from Jackie Robinson that ‘a life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives,'” recalled Tyrone Sanders a member of ILA Local 1422 and the father of Tywanza Sanders, who was killed in the attack at Mother Emanuel AME church. “I’ll be thinking of that quote when I march in the Days of Grace. We will honor my son, the other eight victims and the three survivors by working to build a new South Carolina that serves all of its people.”
Rev. William J. Barber II, president of the North Carolina NAACP and the architect of the Moral Monday movement, will deliver the main address during the march on September 5 and open the conference later that day.
The International Longshoremen’s Association, Local 1422 issued the call for the Days of Grace in late July, and the response has been tremendous. Ninety organizations – including church congregations, students, unions, civil rights groups, and social organizations — have endorsed the call to action for the Labor Day weekend march and conference to reflect on the lives of Walter Scott and the victims of the Emanuel massacre and to chart a course for a better South Carolina.
“The shooting at the Emanuel church woke me up and showed that racism hasn’t died. If 9 people can be murdered in their church just down the road from where I live, I can’t just sit here and do nothing about it. I want to be a part of the solution rather than perpetuating the problem. It’s easy to talk about what’s wrong, but if we don’t act, nothing will change — that’s what the Days of Grace are all about,” said Brittani Williams, a graduate student in Charleston who has been involved in the Days of Grace organizing. “So many people we’ve talked to doing door to door canvassing for the Days of Grace feel the same way – people are ready to act to make change.”
Schedule for the Weekend
September 5th, 9am
March & Rally
Gather at Wragg Square // 342 Meeting St
September 5th, 2pm – 6pm
Conference
ILA Local 1422 Hall // 1142 Morrison Dr
September 6th, 7:30am
Interdenominational Service
ILA Local 1422 Hall // 1142 Morrison Dr
September 6th, 10am – 3pm
Conference
ILA Local 1422 Hall // 1142 Morrison Dr
With just a few days until we march in Charleston and gather for a weekend of discussions about how to expand and deepen our justice movements, find below the information you need to finalize your plans. Don’t see something here that you need to know? Email us at [email protected] or call at 864-513-3450.
Housing
A list of hotels offering discounted rates to Days of Grace participants is available on our website.
There’s also a housing board available for locals to offer housing and for those traveling to town to make housing requests
Getting to Charleston
Find an organizing center near you — Visit our website to connect with others in your area coordinating transportation
Use our ride board to organize carpools from your area to the Days of Grace
Parking
Here’s a map with available decks and parking information. This can also be downloaded off the website.