Lawsuit Filed Seeking Judicial Authorization of Charleston Demonstration for US Rep. Nancy Mace (R, SC-1)

Lawsuit Filed Against City of Charleston Seeking Judicial Authorization of April 5 Ace Mace Demonstration on Daniel Island

From William J. Hamilton, III, Atty at Law; Pettigrew Free Speech Defense (A project of Lowcountry Up is Good, PAC, Inc. 

To Lowcountry Press and Media

Date March March 29, 2025, 12 Noon

Image, Above. Rev. Thomas Dixon attempts to speak to the crowd at a rally at Hampton park using a 25 watt bullhorn in March 2025, which rendered him inaudible to many people in the crowd. Several high quality sound reinforcement systems were available to use, but the city would not permit it. Use of a sound system at this location would not have violated the City noise ordinance. 

Lowcountry, SC, USA- Louise Brown, Thomas Dixon and Attorney William Hamilton filed Federal Court for the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division on Friday, Feb. 28 seeking an injunction authorizing conducting the “Ace Mace, Chip and Charge” Demonstration outside the office of Congresswoman Nancy Mace on Daniel Island on Saturday, April 5. The federal case also seeks declaratory judgment that the current “Free Speech” ordinance regulating First Amendment activities in public space within the City of Charleston is unconstitutional, null and void and the City's payment of Attorney's fees and costs expended by Pettigrew Free Speech Defense (A project of Lowcountry Up is Good, PAC, Inc.) to bring the free speech protection action. 

A copy of the Complaint Filed with the Court can be read online. The supporting exhibits package is also online and available for public view. All filings and court orders in the case can be retrieved on the federal PACER system at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/find-case

The Plaintiffs

Image, Left, July 18, 2015 March to the Sea from Mt. Pleasant to the front beach of teh Isle of Palms. Permitted by both the Town of Mount Pleasant and IOP. Hamilton began leading the march but was retired to the sag wagon. 81 year old Lousie Brown assumed leadership and finished the march with Thomas Dixon. Transit to the Atlantic finally resumed after four more yeas of struggle.

The Plaintiff's have asked the court for an expedited hearing the first week in April so  a decree authorizing the demonstration on the date and in the location can be requested. Organizers have asked to hold their constitutionally authorized gathering on April 5, Charleston biggest tourism day of the year. Plaintiff's have chosen that date because Congresswoman Mace's neglect of the issues of transit, affordable housing and a living wage for Charlestonians endangers the future of our tourism and medical industries. 

The City of Charleston has been emailed the documents filed with the Court and will be formally served on Monday, March 31st when copies will be delivered to Mayor Cogswell at City Hall. 

Louise Brown, lead Plaintiff, is Charleston's revered “Mother of the Movement” and has been fighting for freedom, equality and social justice in the Holy City since marching at her mother's side during the Cigar Factory Strike in 1945-6. Brown was one of twelve nurses who challenged employment discrimination at the Medical University of South Carolina in 1969 and stopped Armored Personnel Carriers during a march with Coretta Scott King and Rosa Parks near the intersection of King and Morris streets while singing, “We Shall Not Be Moved.” She was exiled from Charleston for years following the strike and lived in New York city, finally returning with her growing family years later. Brown is the matriarch of a tribe of over 100 children, grand children and great grandchildren and their wives and husbands, many accomplished in their fields.  

In 2014, Louise was peacefully arrested at the Statehouse protesting the state's refusal to extend medicare with the SC Progressive Network. In July 2015, in 95 degree heat, Brown took over leadership of and completed the five mile March to the Sea to the Isle of Palms as part of a successful seven year campaign to return of CARTA public transit to the Atlantic.

Rev. Thomas Dixon is Charleston's leading contemporary social justice activist. He has held dozens of demonstrations, marches and rallies in the Charleston area. He's fought against gun violence in N. Charleston, using marches to drive drug dealers and criminals out of suffering communities. He's run for Mayor of North Charleston and the US  Senate. He is Associate Pastor at Life Community Church in Mount Pleasant. Dixon is National Board Member of Brady: United Against Gun Violence. He was recently elected Chairman of the Charleston County Democratic Party. Dixon appears in this legal action in his personal capacity and not as a representative of those organizations. 

William Hamilton is an attorney, writer and activist. He has been in practice since 1985 and has litigated hundreds of cases including the 1994 Burke v. Charleston case about the free speech right to paint murals in Charleston. Hamilton is the author of over 1000 published essays and columns about social justice, history, town planning, public transit and Lowcountry culture. Hamilton was the first person to be awarded the I'On Community's Civitas award for transformational neighborhood leadership and has also won the City of Charleston's Spotlight award. Hamilton is the leader of Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit and Lowcountry Up is Good, PAC, Inc. He is a graduate of the USC School of Law and the USC Honors College.

Pettigrew Free Speech Defense

Image, right, May 2024 protest outside Unity City meeting on John Street. Unity City sought to take over local government, churches and schools. It is believed that after community push back the effort, funded by hundreds of thousands of dollars in right wing funding, abandoned their efforts in Charleston.

Pettigrew Free Speech Defense, the legal team, representing the Plaintiffs is seeking sworn affidavits from citizens whose rights to assemble and practice free speech within the City of Charleston have been abridged by the City's government under the new ordinances. Please contact William Hamilton by calling (843) 870-5299 or emailing wjhamilton29464@gmail.com. Updates about the case will be posted on the Lowcountry Up is Good Facebook page and BluSky at https://bsky.app/profile/wjhamilton29464.bsky.social online

END END END

Image, Left, Our Mary flag honors the memory of the late Mary Smith (represented by the fairy on the moon in the canton of the flag). If the court orders the City to permit this demonstration, the Mary flag will fly proudly in her memory.

An Online version of this Media Notice has been posted at https://lc-up-is-good.blogspot.com/2025/03/lawsuit-filed-seeking-judicial.html

Issued March 29, 2025, 12 noon

Authorization to use content in this release and the included images, all of which are property of William J. Hamilton, III is granted to all persons and media. 

Media appearances by the Plaintiffs Hamilton and Dixon live in the Charleston area and online via zoom are available. Brown can be available on zoom by special arrangement, but is currently in the Raleigh, North Carolina area. 

Pettigrew Free Speech Defense Reactivates in Charleston, SC

Petigru Free Speech Defense Reactivates in Charleston, SC

Pettigrew Free Speech Defense (https://www.facebook.com/petigru.free.speech.def) will be reactivated by Lowcountry Up is Good, PAC, Inc. under the leadership of Activist Attorney William J. Hamilton, III, (Admitted to the SC Bar in 1985). Pettigrew Free Speech defense was founded during the time of Occupy Wall Street in Charleston in 2011 to provide counsel and legal assistance to Occupiers arrested during that movements actions. The organization has been reactivated several times since. Over a dozen SC attorneys have been involved. Some members have been involved with free speech issues in Charleston since 1994. We've worked with the ACLU, Unions and national free speech advocates.

14 Years of Protecting Free Speech in Charleston, SC

While Charleston's tight historic public spaces (increasingly privatized) and tourism focused governments do present special challenges to activism and free speech, the area is not so unique that the Constitution of the United States do not apply here. Challenges regarding activism vary throughout the area. We have assisted in filing and assisting others in filing applications for permits. 

We and the ACLU were able to end the illegal prohibition against political activity in Summerville's public parks in 2019. We've helped plan demonstrations to avoid predictable roadblocks and fine avenues for activism which evade Government's desire to silence local citizens so tourists can enjoy “Confederate Disneyland” for Black Lives Matter.

Current Free Speech Issues in the Lowcountry

We're familiar with the speech regimes of the area's various governments. While the landscape is changing rapidly, we've had good luck helping people stay loud and effective in a red state culture which regards citizens as a nuisance.

We have several serous issues which need to be addressed now, including unnecessarily restrictive limits on the use of amplified sound and where people can gather. The Customs House steps, traditionally used for local demonstrations have had their use restricted.

The work group is named after Charleston Attorney James L. Petigru who defended the rights of Northern property owners during the American Civil War here. During the secession convention he famously told a Northern newspaper reporter that, “South Carolina was too small to be a sovereign country and too large to be an insane acylium” during the reporter's visit to his Law Office on St. Michaels Ally (which still stands today).

If You See Free Speech Rights Being Violated or Want to Help

If you are aware of issues arising please take notes, capture video and get the names, addresses, phone numbers and contact information of witnesses. Legal actions aren't won with principles and ideas, but with facts. Dates, locations, times, names, distances and other details matter. Judges do not grant injunctions based on a vague sense of oppression. They will still protect our rights if we can prove they have been violated in ways the law and court decisions prohibit.

To Join the Effort

If you are an attorney, paralegal or private investigator interested in assiting with our work please email William Hamilton at wjhamilton29464@gmail.com or call (843) 870-5299.

We post on blue sky under https://bsky.app/profile/wjhamilton29464.bsky.social and maintain a Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/petigru.free.speech.def Posts include the hashtag #chsresist 

Updates and Timeline #chsresist

This page provides a timeline for known and planned local resistance events and planning updates on events in development. It is presented in reverse chronological order, most recent first. See listings at bottom of this page for other sources of current information on the resistance in the blue County of Charleston, SC.

#TIDEACT Apr. 19 to May 4

Published April 17, 2025

Updates on Blue Sky at https://bsky.app/profile/wjhamilton29464.bsky.social

Information updates rapidly, check our temporary Blue Sky Feed from the QR Code Below for updates and links. Subscribe to Lowcountry Up is Good, PAC, Inc. Email for updates. As TIDE is fully implemented, we’ll transition to a shared control system with new online locations, as well as print content, phone tree scripts and other content.

Sat. Apr. 19– Together In Community

Brittlebank Park, North End 9:30 to 11:00 am- Demonstrate true patriotism as part of a national 50150 effort which includes other demonstrations across SC. Bring your flag and your signs. Dress to express. Rosa Parks pancakes by Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit.

Thur. April 24– Stand for Real Rapid Transit

5 to 6:30 pm, Palmetto Brewing Warehouse Tap Room. The 100 foot right of way beneath I26 was set aside for a transit line into downtown for 20 years, but now it will be a dog walking park for the rich. Check in with Best Friends across the street, under I26 before taking your presence into the design/build open house and demand the lowline set aside a lane for the Lowcountry Rapid Transit System.

Sun. Apr. 27– Progressive Planning with Pasta

5:30 to 8:30 pm, 32 Sowell St., I’On, Mt. Pleasant: Join Lowcountry Progressive Leaders for a simple meal (vegan and meat sauces) and plan the May Mobilization. No MAGAs admitted. Private property. 

May 1-4 – Nobody Turnes Louise Around

90th Birthday Celebration of the 80 year social justice work of Louise Brown, the Lowcountry’s Mother of the . Includes May 2, 10 am, Panel Discussion at Parkside Church and a May 4, 4-7 pm Celebration on the front Beach of Sullivan’s Island (permitted and insured) in front of Sullivan’s Island Elementary School with a fish fry, sand castle contest and Ghandi style making salt from the sea. Donations needed. Search for #lbrown90 for details.

Looking Forward

July 4– How do we mark the 249th. Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Dixon is planning a demonstration in N. Charleston.

November Municipal Elections– MAGA has the money and the will to take over the Lowcuntry’s municipal governments in our municipal elections. Do we want Maga Pleasant? Do we want Charleston to continue to walk away from Freedom of Speech? How do we protect our towns and cities.

Archive Items

 April 4, 2024- Judge Norton wouldn't grant our motion, but we feel someone needs to stand up for the people of Daniel Island so we'll be substituting a small, rapid turnover demonstration smack in the middle of downtown Daniel Island for our original planned demonstration. Read the details https://mailchi.mp/59601203e3ec/speed-dating-for-social-justice-wo-nancy-mace-will-substitute-for-denied-demonstration-on-daniel-is-on-apr-8?e=f71545c879

April 5, 2024 promises to be a busy day for Social Justice. At least four demonstrations are planned around the Lowcountry including Ace Mace demonstration outside the office of Nancy Mace on Daniel Island from 1 to 4 pm, a  demonstration on Hutchison Square in Downtown Summerville. This is the Lowcountry's busiest tourism weekend and a prime opportunity for national witness that we are a real, vital community that is no longer content to stumble forward towards a future as "Confederate Disneyland."

March 29, 2025 Lowcountry Up is Good files suit against the City of Charleston in Federal District Court to obtain court approval for April 5, 2025 demonstration outside the Daniel Island office of Nancy Mace. Read the press release. 

March 28 - First "Cadet Mace Tolerates Those Who Do" buttons distributed at Mount Pleasant Town hall skipped by Rep. Nancy Mace. Image of design on right. Try to pick one up at some of the upcoming progressive events in her Congressional district. Mace began her tenure in Congress by voting to impeach lame duck President Trump in 2021, but now she's a believer. As a cadet she subscribed to the Citadel Honor Code which says, "A Cadet will not lie, cheat or steal or tolerate those who do." Mace the first female graduate of the Citadel, whose father was the Commandant of the Citadel has abandoned those core values for a more flexible approach that if Trump can help me get the  Republican nomination for Governor, anything he does is good. Like our Senator Lindsey Graham, who ran against trump in the Republican prirmaries in 2016, the rabid red base has persuaded her to abandon her core values, making a mockery of the Citadel and her fellow cadets. 

March 28- Maceless Town Hall Held in Mount Pleasant. Huge, orderly assembly of Citizens demands better reorientation from US Representative Nancy Mace (R, SC-!) in packed Town Hall Meeting in Mount Pleasant. Meeting ends with stirring rendition of America the Beautiful from crowd. Mace dismisses gathering as "fake news" and unsafe, insulting constituents in Mt. Pleasant. 

March 17 2025- Application for police permit for Ace Mace- Chimp and Charge Demonstration filed with Charleston PD.

Pettigru Free Speech Defense Reactivates in Charleston, SC - Pettigrew Free Speech Defense (https://www.facebook.com/petigru.free.speech.def) will be reactivated by Lowcountry Up is Good, PAC, Inc. to provide legal cover for resistance Free Speech activities. Attorneys, paralegals and investigators needed. 

March 16, 2025- #chsresist hashtag deployed to help local efforts cohere on Blue Sky and other social media outlets.

Other Sources of Information on the Resistance in #CHSSC

• Charleston Good- Runs a website featuring many of the local events and organizations working for a more sustianable and just Lowcountry. See https://growpurpose.com/charlestongood/community-events/
• Facebook page of Rev. Thomas Dixon. Rev. Dixon's personal Facebook page posts regular graphical promotions on local progressive and community events.