Photos and words by Sean Rayford

“I think it's a crock of crap. They did it, those Antifa people did it trying to make it look like it was Trump people,” says Rex Polk, about the January 6 Capitol insurrection. Polk, in camouflage, overalls, and waving a ‘Trump 2020, No More Bullshit’ flag, drove from Myrtle Beach to the South Carolina Statehouse to protest the inauguration and election of President Joe Biden.

“Everybody's afraid to go out and make a stand for Trump because they are afraid they are gonna get mixed up in that. But I say, if they do that — then they won. They won. If they make us scared to go out. I tried to get everybody to go out. If everybody did it, we'd be noticed,” he says.

“Our politicians, all of them need to be taken out back and shot. I can't do it. I'm just one person,” says John Miller, who says he’ll pray for the new president — despite being here to protest his election.

"There are too many anomalies that took place that unfortunately, whoever did it — somewhat did their homework pretty good. So… it is what it is. I’ve prayed for every president in the United States since Kennedy, regardless of whether I voted for ‘em or not. I didn't vote for Kennedy. And I'll pray for Biden. That's all I can do. I can vote and I can pray.”

Sean Rayford is a photojournalist based in Columbia, South Carolina. See more at seanrayford.com