The Mount Pleasant Police Department was made aware of a group of organizers that wanted to hold a march and rally at the Waterfront Park this Sunday. Chief Ritchie reached out to the organizers and invited them to discuss their plans. A very productive and positive meeting was held with Chief Ritchie, Community Partners, and the Organizers.
The conversation was very productive and we have been assured the event will be peaceful and the Mount Pleasant Police Department will be directly involved with the event to ensure the safety of all participants and that the Town of Mount Pleasant is not impacted negatively.
We are all outraged and saddened by all injustices current and past and know that tough conversations must be had in order to move forward in a positive way.
All persons and groups have a Constitutional right to be heard and peacefully march and the Mount Pleasant Police Department is committed to ensuring that those rights are met.
This event will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday and is scheduled to end at 6 p.m. Chief Ritchie will speak at the event as well as other speakers the group has chosen. After speaking and receiving a safety briefing from Chief Ritchie the group along with officers of the Mount Pleasant Police Department will leave the Waterfront Park and march up the pedestrian lane of the Ravenel Bridge and stop at the middle of the bridge walk way for a moment of silence, participants will then return to the Waterfront Park for closing remarks with all peacefully leaving the park.
As requested by the organizers the event will take place only in the Waterfront Park and on the pedestrian walkway. At no time will the bridge be shut down or traffic impeded. It is mutually understood that safety is the number one priority and that walking in the roadway could risk both injury to the marchers as well as innocent persons in their vehicle. The group does not want their event to be remembered for the wrong reasons and are working closely with the Mount Pleasant Police Department to identify anyone who may try to disrupt and overshadow the message they are wanting to convey.
Photo: Mount Pleasant Police Department