Faith March - Columbia, SC

Chrystal Finney, right, Luevera Caesar, and Sharon Brister march on Gervais St. Saturday June 20, 2020 in Columbia, SC. Photos and words by Sean Rayford

“It was an amazing feeling of unity. It was a feeling of oneness. It was a feeling of one love. And it was a feeling of empowerment — to bring attention to this matter in a peaceful way,” explains Chrystal Finney, from a coveted piece of shade on the statehouse grounds on Saturday afternoon after a 1.3 mile march with her friends at the Deaf Ministry at Brookland Baptist Church, Sharon Brister and Luevera Caesar. “I've been watching the protests and we were encouraged to come to this one because it was a faith based protest. I felt that it would be safer,” says Finney, an alumnus of Virginia Commonwealth University who moved to Columbia 11 years ago.

Entering a fourth week of nationwide protests following the killing of George Floyd, religious leaders demonstrated for reform and Black lives on Saturday in the state capital, taking on the Taylor St. hill on a seasonal June day.

“All people are important but we know that all people are not protected under the law,” adds Luevera Caesar before they head off to listen to the speakers.