A local activist and historian are attempting to save the old Orangeburg State Theatre. Author: Devin Johnson Updated: 8:14 PM EST February 1, 2021
ORANGEBURG, S.C. A local activist and historian are trying to save what they call one of the last pieces of Orangeburg s history, the Orangeburg State Theatre. To me, this is the most important building to save in Orangeburg, said William Green. It represents our history and legacy in Orangeburg.
The building that local activist, William Green, is referring to is the Orangeburg State Theatre on Railroad Corner. According to Cinema Treasure s website, the state theatre operated as an African-American theatre from 1949 to 1955 by Booker T s theatre chain. It s currently abandoned, and the city is planning to redevelop the theatre and the other buildings around it. Opponents argue the move could erase the city s history.
This program originally aired June 3, 2020.
A “true child of the Civil Rights Movement,” Bakari Sellers said the cries of that era echoed in last summer s national unrest over the police killing of George Floyd.
While Floyd’s death was the catalyst for the protests, Sellers said they also reflect “systemic injustice and systemic racism that’s plagued this country for 400 years.”
He also views the coronavirus pandemic’s disproportionate impact on people of color from the perspective of someone raised in a South Carolina community where now there is no hospital, polluted water and air, and scarce access to food.
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joining me now to talk more about the civil rights movement of 1968 and today cleveland sellers who was a member of the student nonviolent coordinating committee and former president of vorhees college, and his son, bakari sellers, cnn commentator who was a democratic member of the south carolina house of representatives. thanks for joining us, and it s an honor to have you here. thank you for having me. yes, i guess for bringing thank you for having me as well. mr. sellers, you re on the front lines of the civil rights movement. 1968, i want to talk to you about one event that people should watch. it s very graphic. i want to warn everyone. it s about the orangeburg massacre. this was a protest by black students in orangeburg, south carolina when that turned deadly when police came to break it up. tell us what happened, mr. sellers. the students of south carolina stated had a long