First in Nation Bus stops in Kingstree to rally Democrats

The First in the Nation Campaign bus stopped at Connie's Bakery on Friday, February 2, for a rally to support the reelection of President Joe Biden. For the first time in South Carolina’s history, Democratic voters were first to the polls in the presidential primary election on February 3.

Local, national, and international press were in Kingstree to cover the rally. The Rev. Jerry Dicks, Williamsburg County School Board Trustee for District 1 opened the event in prayer before Williamsburg County South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Mauretta Wilson welcomed everyone and introduced House Seat 101 Representative Roger Kirby.

Kirby told the crowd, “This is one of the most important election cycles in our lifetime.” More guest speakers followed.

Councilwoman Jackie Hailes from District 7 emphasized the need to re-elect Biden. “We are fired up and ready to vote. Let’s do it again,” she said.

Councilmember Johnathan Miller from District 3 said, “This country, state and county needs to have a president the country can respect.”

County Coroner Ivori Henryhand, County Treasurer Kimber Cooper, and Probate Judge Betty Matthews, also spoke to the community members gathered for the event to encourage them to vote and to encourage friends and family to vote, as well.

Senator Ronnie Sabb introduced Alabama Senator Doug Jones, who Sabb said has been on the front line of civil rights. “If you’ve got the right ideas and if you care about people and how they live, every once in a while, folks are willing to look beyond party affiliation, and look to the man and what the man represents,” said Sabb.

Senator Jones was appointed United States Attorney under President Clinton. He praised South Carolinians for their hard work to get Biden in the White House, and said they deserved the first primary. He said people have forgotten what a public servant Joe Biden has been over the past 50 years. He overcame public tragedy in the death of his wife and daughter, then his son, and has served his country. “Joe Biden has stayed the course.” He said when Joe Biden sat down with him to talk about running in 2020, the President said, “We have got to have some stability. We have to get rid of the chaos. We’ve got to make sure people are cared for.

The microphone was passed to Jay Parmley, Executive Director of the South Carolina Democratic Party who said, “We were given this tremendous honor to be first in the nation about a year ago by President Biden and the Democratic National Committee.” He said the State was given the honor because of the turnout of the Democratic voters “time and time again and keep picking the Democratic nominee and the President of the United States.”

“For the first time ever it is black voters, brown voters, rural voters that will go to the polls tomorrow along with a few white voters like me and will cast the first vote toward the Democratic nominee for president and we get to make history. This is historic for all of us.”

He told the crowd that voting for Nikki Haley in the Republican primary to thwart Donald Trump was not an option. He encouraged everyone to vote for Joe Biden.

Local Party Chair Mauretta Wilson, thanked the speakers and charged the crowd with a few last thoughts. “There is a proverb, if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. That is how we get to where we need to be. The road to the White House is through Williamsburg County.”

For more information about the Williamsburg County Democratic Party, follow them on Facebook.