The 50501 People’s Movement will hold a protest from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, along Ashley Phosphate Road near the intersection of Dorchester Road. The demonstration is part of the No Kings National Day of Action, which includes more than 2,500 events nationwide, 13 of them in South Carolina.
Organizers emphasize a commitment to nonviolence. Previous 50501 protests in the Charleston area have been coordinated with local law enforcement, permitted when required, and conducted peacefully.
The group criticized South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson for issuing a public statement in June warning of “radical leftist groups and outside agitators” planning violence ahead of the first No Kings National Day of Action on June 14, 2025. The statement was widely shared by media and amplified by law enforcement agencies. Organizers said the claims were false and potentially escalated tensions.
Tree Martschink, who filed the FOIA request, said, “The Attorney General of South Carolina intentionally used his office to spread fear and division, with no evidence to back it up. This is about the erosion of public trust in our institutions.”
Pastor Thomas Dixon, Charleston County Democratic Party chair, added, “Wilson’s statements had the potential to incite violence targeting peaceful protesters with no history of engaging in violence.”
The June 14 No Kings protest was peaceful. Charleston Police Chief Chito Walker said afterward, “No one was injured, and messages were delivered in full view of the community. That is a success by any measure, and it reflects what Charleston is capable of when we show up with respect, even when opinions differ.”
The Oct. 18 protest will focus on free speech, democracy, and a range of issues including government accountability, civil rights, health care, education, and economic fairness, according to organizers.