COLUMBIA, S.C. — Vice-President Kamala Harris told a group of hundreds at the annual "King Day at the Dome" event in Columbia Monday that 'freedom is under threat' across the country.
Harris was the keynote speaker at the event that's put on by the South Carolina NAACP. People filled the courtyard facing the South Carolina State House to hear speakers discuss progress and work still ahead in moving forward as a country and state.
Harris pointed to restrictions in recent years on abortion, LGBTQ rights, and voting restrictions as proof of her belief that conservative lawmakers in the country are rolling back what she said hard hard-fought gains.
Harris' appearance continues a tradition of Democrats appearing at the event in advance of a Presidential primary. President Joe Biden will be on the ballot on February 3rd as he looks to secure his party's nomination to run for a second term in office.
The SC NAACP said this year was even more historically significant than any other year.
"This is the 24th anniversary of doing what we call 'King Day at the Dome,'" Jim Felder, historian of the SC NAACP, said.
It started with a prayer breakfast with Hakeem Jeffries, the U.S. House Minority Leader, at Zion Baptist Church downtown.
"It has been a harbor for Civil Rights activities here," Felder said.
Following the breakfast, there will was a march to the State House, where hundreds walked down Main Street to the capitol complex. Due to Harris' visit, visitors had to go through extra security including metal detectors before they could hear Harris and the others speak.
This was the 24th year of King Day at the Dome.
"It started over bringing down the Confederate flag back in 2000," Felder said. "It took a while, then there was the situation in Charleston shooting at Mother Emanuel [In 2015], the strength of bringing it down."
Felder added that the organization continued to celebrate the flag removal and more. He said having the first Black female vice president adds to the work done throughout the years on the Civil Rights front.
"I did not think I would see a Black president in my lifetime. So, we got Obama. Then, here comes Kamala Harris - first female Black vice president," he said. "So, that is significant. This has been a significant period we've gone through in the last year or so, really, including with Ketanji Brown Jackson being appointed to the Supreme Court."