Episode 18: Hell of a Year

On June 18 at a strip mall in a small town in the far Upstate of South Carolina, Homeland Security Investigations arrested 10 people at Puerto Nuevo, a popular Mexican restaurant. What really happened that day? And why is communication breaking down between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve in places like Oconee County? Today's episode explores the way the Trump administration's mass deportation agenda is sowing chaos, fear, and confusion — and the way people in small towns like West Union, S.C., are pushing back to protect their neighbors. We had so much ground to cover, we decided to split this episode into two parts. Up next on Episode 16, we’ll continue unpacking what really happened at other immigration raids around the state, including the infamous June 1 raid in Ladson. We’ll also travel to Beaufort County, where hundreds of locals have shown up to oppose a 287(g) agreement signed by their sheriff. This fight is far from over. To see our map of 287(g) agreements and check the status of your local sheriff's office, go to aclusc.org/287g If you would like to sign a petition against the ICE detention camp being proposed by candidates for governor in South Carolina, go to aclusc.org/ice25 If you would like to volunteer with the ACLU of South Carolina in support of immigrants' rights or other constitutional rights, we have a quick interest form you can fill out at aclusc.org/volunteer Another way you can help out is by volunteering with one of the ICE hotlines being created by volunteers across the state. Currently the hotline covering Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties is up and running. If you are interested in learning more, follow @chs_hotline on Instagram or search for "CHS Hotline / CHS Linea Directa Comunitaria Inmigrante" on Facebook. Subscribe for free here: Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcast Addict Other Podcast Apps

Ever heard the name Howard Rich? How about Jeff Yass? You didn’t vote for them, but they and a handful of other out-of-state billionaires have been leading the push to fund private religious schools with public money in South Carolina. On this episode we are joined by Professor Josh Cowen, author of the 2024 book The Privateers: How Billionaires Created a Culture War and Sold School Vouchers. As someone who has investigated the outcomes of private school vouchers in other states, he speaks out on these programs’ terrible academic track record, the pitfalls of voucher schools for students with learning disabilities, the havoc they wreak on rural schools’ education funding, and the ugly segregationist history of voucher campaigns from Brown v. Board to the present day. For more information and links to studies and news coverage, see our recent blog post, "The ugly truth about school vouchers." Now is a good time for lawmakers to hear from their constituents who oppose school vouchers. Our friends at the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center have set up a page to help you contact your state senator, including some suggested language for an email: https://www.votervoice.net/SCJustice/Campaigns/120058/Respond Music featured on this episode is by Daft Hartley. The audio clips at the start and end of the episode are of South Carolina Education Superintendent Ellen Weaver, speaking at an event hosted by the Heritage Foundation on June 6, 2024. You can hear her further comments about “an overtly faith-based education” on our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aclusc/reel/C8mVOLwBd3e/

You sent in questions for your transgender neighbors in South Carolina. Now we’re answering them. For the Season 2 premiere, we’re hosting a panel conversation with transgender South Carolinians from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. Eboni Sims (she/her), Sterling Misanin (he/him), and Gwenn McClune (she/her) share their joys, struggles, and insights as trans people living in the Palmetto State. Our podcast co-host Jace Woodrum (he/him) serves as moderator for the panel. He also shares some of his own stories as a trans man from our state — and the first-ever trans executive director of an ACLU affiliate (sorry, not sorry, we’re going to keep bragging about that). If you would like to help advocate for the rights of trans South Carolinians — and South Carolinians — please fill out a volunteer interest form at aclusc.org/volunteer. To learn more about our court case representing Sterling and challenging the constitutionality of our state’s gender-affirming care ban, go to aclusc.org/mvw.